1989 Interview with Balbino Palacio about EARLY Seine Bight

  Seine Bight, Little London, and many more names its called is stiuated about 72 nautical miles south of Belize city or 32-36 miles south of Dangriga(Stann Creek Town) on the Placencia peninsula bounded on the north by Maya Beach or Blair Atoll, south by Placencia Village east by the Caribbean Sea west by the Placencia Lagoon.

It's not clear why or how it came to be named or called Seine Bight. There are stories that suggest that the geographical shape of that of a Seine(a NET used catching fishes etc). Others say the first inhabitants of Pt.Placencia were said to Pirates used this location to hang their fishing nets and the same time to hide from Belize authorties who occassionaly came down to inquire about the fishing expeditions

Seine Bight was originally settled by the Moreiras & the Martinezs.
Prior to that they settled at Al pines or Jonathan Point. It is said that a time came when the British Honduran goverment started talking to them about the posibilities of buying their individual pieces of land an idea they found ridiculous to buy God's land. They finally rejected this stupid idea.

A white settler by the name of one Mr.Downner bought the entire area offered them before and he drove them off the land. These group of Garinagu travelled south way passed where Seine Bight is now to an area called Caribbal.

After awhile again they were approached with the idea of buying their lands which they rejected again and again told to leave. They then moved about three miles north to where Seine Bight village is now.

Seine Bight village was ideal for fishing but the peninsula was not so ideal for farming hence they found it neccesary to cross the lagoon west to the main land for more fertile farming land.
They farmed near-by and went as far inland to where it is now George Town (then called California).

Traditionally the Garinagu were known to live by the sea and do the farming close land but not too far inland. A 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 out of a thatched roof and blanks made out the bark of the cuhune palm tree.

The first teacher was said to be a Mr. Marcello Arzu followed by Mr.Simeon Samson, Mr. Nicodemus Castillo. For a short time children from Placencia Village attended classes in Seine Bight until one teacher by the name of T.V. Simpson started classes in a small school building with the help of one bishop DUNN.

The first education oficer to visit these schools eg. Mullins River, Monkey River, Sittee River, Seine Bight, Placencia is one Mr.A Barrow Dillan. This is the person who brings the curriculum & school exams and test the teachers & students etc.

RECREATION

It will be noted that farming(the kind these Garinagu does) is seasonable hence between planting and harvest they spend recreating them selfs at home on the peninsula and als to do extensive fishing. A lot of recreational activities were scheduled for these times. Music was provided by using intruments like fife mouth organ, accordian, guitars, drums and wooden boxes.

-LAW & ORDER-

As in any community there has to be Law & order which was provided by an alcalde appointed by the people.
An alcalde was invested with the power to arrest & apprehend violators,hold tribunals,inpose fines, community services or both.

The first known alcalde was Mayor(a Mr. Thomas) followed by Mr.Santiago Lambey, Mr. Balbino Palacio who served three(3) two-year terms. It seems that some time there after a Justice of the Peace system was established by the then British Honduras govt.

One Mr.Marcus Moreira was then appointed the first JUSTICE OF THE PEACE OF SEINE BIGHT VILLAGE.

---

Questions - Comments - Suggestions
Contact Webmaster: SeineBight@SeineBight.com

Back To Seine Bight Village