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Estelita Romero, Alleges ex (Marco Vidal Head of The GSU) common-law physically abused children

Words from Estelita Romero

“For eight years I was the common law of Mr. Mark Vidal. And we have three children—a ten year old, a nine year old, and a seven year old girl. We’ve been separated for some years now. From the beginning of the separation, the children were living with me then he took them away from me. When we separated, Vidal told me that I could stay in the house for the first month or so because we were renting. Then I would have to find a way to pay my own bills because he would not do it. So, because of that I had no job. I had to look for a job leaving my children in the care of my mother. For the time being that they were with my mother, I was off and on visiting with them; helping my mother financially and he was too. Then I applied for custody and so did he. Then he came up to me and spoke to me and asked me not to show up to the next hearing because it was foolish for us to be fighting over them. So I accepted that. We did not sign anything. I did not show up for the hearing and neither did he. And it worked out for the beginning and the children were living with me. After that, he just came and took them away without saying the reasons why. And since then he took them to live with him and his new wife. And the children constantly complain to me about things they are going through at home—verbal, you know; that they always get lashings, and punishments.

Sometimes they would be locked up for a whole day or for months without having anywhere to go or play. It’s not the first time my daughter had come home with a bruise on her legs or anywhere on her body. But this time the bruise was that big that I decided to report the matter to the police. I went to the police station on the twenty seventh. And since then nothing has been done. The police hasn’t been giving me any feedback. I have been visiting them and trying to find out what is happening and they are not saying anything. It seems to me that they aren’t going to do anything either. Even bring up to me saying that there are cases that are even bigger and that the lashing my daughter got was justifiable of a disciplinary actions that her father took against her. And the reason I come to the media is that I feel justice is not being made for me or my child. So I think that something needs to get done. And if this is what I have to do, I will do it because what is my concern are my children.”

REPORT FROM CHANEL 5 BELIZE

REPORT FROM BELIZE TIMES

This transcript was made by a fluent Creole speaker.  The English may not be up to par but I have left it as I received it, rather than risk “interference” and clean it up.  It is intelligible:  (the BDF, mentioned in the ttape, is the Belizean Army).

Juni- Mr. Tony! Tony- what’s going on. what do you have for me

Juni- I saw the guy.  he was acting like a bitch

Tony- which one? And what dose it have to do with what I talk with you .

Juni-noel he like to talk

Tony-but we are related

Juni- the guy say that I have been give to many problem when is the last ime you hear me giving trouble.and my mom wants me to go back an work  ,but you don’t want to see anyone taking advantage of you right tony

tony-  fuck no I donÕt that is why I came out of that place thank god,that same day when I went I should go back to work I shoot a deer and gibnut (peccary)  I am Am donewith these mother fuckers

juni-so when will you be ready for us to do the move.

Tony-well we have to wait a couple more days cause we can not be in a hury.

Juni-okay Tony you need to stay away from there and donÕt go around them,I donÕt even want them to come around me or speck to me even noel cause he is a mother fucker.

Juni- you don’t have the men number either right we need to get it.

Tony- that’s not hard to get that is the fastest thing to do

Juni-if you call them are you sure they are going to come

Tony-I don’t know because that’s a heck of a problem because these guys donÕt play either.

Juni-but as long as you contact them they are going to come.

Tony my babe need water later am going to take him for a ride by Mr. Bill Jones then ill go by Elfrida place an come back here.

Juni-so how long. will u get d gun cause that is the most important thing.

Tony-I will

Juni-but you think that guy will cover up for you.

Tony well I have to talk to them good because if they find them with anything they shouldn’t have they are going to be fuck, and I don’t want to get caught either.

Juni-Ms. Olga is going to back you up from the GSU

Tony-not GSU the BDF

Juni-so the BDF is the one getting the things for you so when we get it we cant bomb noel and have more for the other man.but it has to be a day when all of tem are there 

Tony-yes Juni-like a day when they are having a meeting. Tony-so right there is were they have the meetings them cool.

Juni-right here is the place. Look this is it ,as long as you know the place you are good and plus I am going to help you.

Tony-so what is the problem with you and the white, man that he wants to get  to you now? Juni-because he said that something was missing from him I don’t really know

Tony-he can not fuck with you only if he saw you.

Juni-its not that he fucks with anyone ,and plus I already know what we are into so am not worring about him a fuck.

Tony- let them feel go leave them alone they don’t know what is coming for them those mother fuckers.

Juni-okay Tony-its just a matter of time dude plus I don’t want those guys seeing us talking Juni- let me leave an when you go by my house we will talk better

Tony- yes that’s true

Juni-those guys think they are safe

Tony-they are not safe and the cow boy still work for him?

Juni-no he got dismiss

Tony-all of them are acting like some real fucking ass.they fell like he is there god and following him when he kicks them in there fucking ass they will know from noel will get dismiss you listen to what am telling you the same white men will run thar fucker.

Juni- that ass

Tony-what gose around comes around ,that fucker of noel is the same one that made him dismiss who had been dismiss

Juni-cow boy is a serious men you know don’t fuck with him.

Tony-what his is fucking serious, if you give them a hint they will go at the correct spot and do there thing.

Juni-the high official is you friend

Tony- I just need to make one phone call and they are gong to be here ready for what ever.

Juni-they are born ready good

Tony- they wil go in any place it dose not matter to them, you see that guy in Belize he was not home they went with the GSU broke down the door got so mean gun cocane fucking bullet prove handcuff  and a lot more of stuff  he could not run he had a lot of fucking things in his house.The GSU donÕt care they will going and do what they want they donÕt give a fuck.and not small men went to search his house it was big fucking men Some men that sell weed and small stuff on the road they said that he had all kind of guns ,but not like the one on gorge street  you could want to fuck with them you see what I am talking about juni these men are not small men they are fucking big gens Someone gave the GSU a hit were those stuff was because they went start in the house Juni-well I will see you later cause it look like its going to rain

Tony-well am going to get my shit together an am going to talk to you later Juni-okay later

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Three of my friends are still being held in prison on trumped up charges.  They are:

Eddie Ancona

Cassian  Chavarria

William Mulligan

 They were charged and have been imprisoned because three legally licensed firearms were found in the incorrect rooms on my property (stretching the law to the extreme).  I would ask you to please email the following and demand their release:

You might also ask, in your email, why Mr. Rhaburn has never been charged, or even questioned about these recordings.

Belize is a country of contrasts.  It has one of the most beautiful seacoasts in the world.  From my house, I had  a view of crystal clear aquamarine waters, calmy protected by a reef no more than 100 yards offshore.

For much of the year, the above is what I had to look at.  During storm season, however, we are dead center of the Carribean storm pathhs and then this is what you get:

And this:

It is a frightening time of year.  Every year their are hurricanes, evacuation and uncertainty.  I have stayed at home for every evacuation for the past five years.  It is wind and water and I love both.  During the last Hurricane – Mathew – I finally gave in as the winds rose and the water boiled.  I took my boat 4 miles down the coast to my condo.  I was the only boat on the water – everyone else had wisely  taken refuge inland.  I was unable to dock at the condo due high wind and waves and it was only the intervention of my close freind, Eddie Ancona – the very Eddie who is now unjustly in jail because of his association with me – that saved me.  He has lived in San Pedro his entire life and is an accomplished seaman.  He met me at Amigos Del  Mar and helped me take the boat to safety.  Eddie is one of the most honorable men I have ever know, and he has been a true friend.  I would trust him with my life.  So that you can put a face to a name here he is (Eddie was one of my employees and friends who was arrested simply because he worked for me)

The interior of the country, where I had my riverfront home (the one raided , destroyed in April by the GSU and finally burned to the ground this year ), is as beautiful as the coasts of the numerous islands.   Languid rivers wind their way through lush jungle.  But even her, the law of the jungle rules.  Manatees, for example, are frequently killed by motorboats that carry tourist to and from the Mayan ruins dotting the countryside:

The culture is no less beautiful and conrasting.  Indigenous Mayan villages maintain their traditional cultures and language.  The Quech’ii, in the South, are a beautiful and curious people.  Young women above the age of 12 are forbidden to look at unmarried men until the time of marriage.  Children are curious and freindly.  Unfortunately, alcoholism is rampant and domestic violence is the norm:

The Mennonites, a hard working, industrious society, have six large encampments at various locations on the mainland.  The are the backbone of the non-tourist economy.  They produce 90% of the foodstuffs consumed within the country.  They believe that life should be hard.  They replace rubber tractor tires with molded concrete wheels:

Or, sometimes, even with iron wheels:

Their manner of dress is modest:

And their modes of transportation are quaint:

Yet, even here their dissimilation.   They are forbidden to own telephones, radios and automobiles.  They may not drive automobiles. The more enterprising lease automobiles, so that they do not own then, then they hire drivers.  They purchase cell phones for their drivers and the drivers hold the phones up their bosses ears so that they can make and receive calls.  I regret I have no photos of this comical process.

More images of my life in Belize

With my friend Ang Lee flying and crocodile hunting , Ang spent some time Belize researching for Life of Pi