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DID YOU KNOW THAT?
The road into and through Seine Bight was first
called Cull's Highway. It was so named
after Fr. John Cull, S. J. the first
person who first drove into Seine
Bight by driving through the uncharted bushes and swamps
of Riversdale, in a four-wheel-drive jeep, sometimes with
one set of tires in the sea with the other set
on the sandy shores.
Did you know that the Seine Bight school system was
established sometime in the 1900's. The first school
building was built in the area of where the old school
building is now located. It was built with a thatched
roof and blanks, yaraüwa walls made out of the
bark of the cuhune palm tree.
Did you know that Belize's first Garifuna Education officer
was from Seine Bight. Yes, Mr. Cleophus J. Augustine
was from the "The Jewel Of The Penninsula". He was also affectionately known as "Cle" and Zum-gali.
Did you know: That shortly after hurricane Hattie the first set of British troops by heliocopter LANDED in front of the old school with GUNS DRAWN "at the ready".
Did you know that: The first known alcalde was a Mr. Thomas
followed by Mr.Santiago Lambey. The next alcalde was
Mr. Balbino Palacio who served 6 years.
Did you know Seine Bight Village alcaldes like all other alcaldes were appointed by the people. An alcalde was vested with the power to arrest & apprehend violators, hold tribunals, impose fines, community
services or both.
Did you know that in 1962 the British Honduras government under
it's colonial rules set up the first Justice Of the Peace System.
One Mr.Marcus Moreira was then appointed the first JUSTICE OF THE
PEACE OF SEINE BIGHT VILLAGE.
Did you know? that: The word "duende" (as in TATA DUENDE and DUENDU -
duende \doo-EN-day\ noun) comes from Spanish, where it translates
literally as "ghost" or "goblin," click here for more on DUENDU OR
DUENDE. Click here for MORE
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Did you know that our Seine Bight forefathers first settled
at Jonathan Point also called All Pines until they were driven or expelled from there because they REFUSED to pay for the area on which they lived. They found the idea of paying for GOD's Land REPUGNANT. They rejected this stupid idea of paying for land. A white settler by
the name of one Mr.Downner had bought the entire area and offered
to sell them a peice. They REFUSED. He drove them off the land. These group of Garinagu traveled south way pass where Seine Bight is now
to an area called Caribbal. For many years, relics of
broken bottles, chinaware and building posts remained behind
at the location as indication of prior human habitation.
Did you know: That Seine Bight was once where Caribbal was
until our ORIGINAL SEINE BIGHT SETTLERS WERE driven from
there because they AGAIN REFUSED to pay for their lands. Instead the CARIBS baal (shouted) (( maybe it's why they call it Caribal.
Did you know that: The first teacher was said to be a
Mr. Marcello Arzu followed by a Mr.Simeon Samson, then by
a Mr. Nicodemus Castillo. A small school building was built
with the help of one bishop DUNN.
Did you know that: For a short time all the children from Placencia
Village attended classes in Seine Bight.
Did you know: The first education officer (known as Gene Teachers)
to visit Seine Bight Schools was one Mr. A Barrow Dillan. He brought the curriculum & school exams and tested the
teachers & students etc. The Gene Teachers administered promotional
tests annually to the students. Promotion of the students from one
class to another was based upon the strength of the results of those
yearly tests.
DID YOU KNOW THAT: Between 1965 - 1968 Seine Bight once had a credit union - called Gaines Credit Union. This was a small green and white house 300 yards north of the Hurricane Shelter on the west side of the
street. One of the officers was Mr. Bonifacio Hill. Gaines opened
onces a week on Wednesday evenings for all transactions. Gaines
as far as I know was a subsidary of Holy Redeemer Credit Union
in Belize City.
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DID YOU KNOW THAT: The darkest days in Seine Bight was one sunny Sunday
morning in May 1961 when over a dozen peeople died over a 36 hour period. This was the Benzine incident.
A gallon of what was believed to be consumable liquor drifted ashore
Seine Bight and privately distributed and consumed among a select few.
This sunny day quickly dimmed as this deadly vermouth almost immediately
began claiming one victim after another.
This deadly drink's first action is to severe the optic nerve rendering
instantaneous blindness follwed by massive internal bleeding leaving it's
victim in an almost catatonic and terminal state. Burials in Seine Bight
were scheduled by the hour. Often, before one coffin was covered the
wailings of new mourners can be heard announcing another death or
two.
Men stood by the church bell to take turns sounding the bell in that
Ever-So-Slow and distinct bone chilling, Death announcing bang, sending
chills impregnated by fear of multitudes of untimely ghosts throughout
the village. Providence only saved others such as my mother as they were denied
access or admission for one reason or another to the private distribution
process of this clear colorless mortal drink.
My mother often relates how she was not admitted to one upstainrs
wooden house where her group (Pu-lal-li-guna) (Pulali = sweetish
milky mini dumpling) where the ladies of Pulali meets for singing
practice. The Pulali group had been a given a quart of this vermouth
for the consumtion of its paying members. Members of the Pulali group
(all ladies) were obligated to pay 25 cents a month to remain current.
Because my mom was one month behind, yes, she was behind by 25
cents .... she was denied admission at the door. She relates how
she remembers each step she took as stepped down each rung of the
steps.
The half dead or half living rushed to Stann Creek and often didn't
make it. In some cases one or more members of the same family died
hours apart. Emergency medical response from leaders of government
was anemic at best. After these dark days bottles drifting ashore
were heavily scrutinized.
It may not be late to research marine records to find out which
negligent ship or liner that was the source and seek legal
remedies.
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