A village already on edge is now facing a troubling mystery. In the Maya community of Indian Creek, a deepening leadership crisis has taken a dramatic turn with the unexplained disappearance of First Alcalde Marcus Canti. He was last seen on Monday, and tonight, no one knows where he is. His sudden absence comes as tensions reach a boiling point fueled by a bitter land dispute and sharp divisions between supporters of the traditional alcalde system and those backing the elected village council. With the situation now at a tipping point, News Five’s Paul Lopez takes us to Indian Creek with the latest.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
A once close‑knit village is now gripped by uncertainty. In the Maya community of Indian Creek, the unexplained disappearance of First Alcalde Marcus Canti has pushed a long‑simmering dispute straight to the breaking point. Canti was last seen on Monday, and as tonight, police have not publicly said what led to his disappearance. There’s been no confirmation of foul play, but his sudden absence has left residents shaken and a deeply divided community on edge. News Five has obtained an audio recording of Canti pleading for help in his native language. We spoke with one village resident about the growing tension.
Voice of: Resident of Indian Creek Village
“I heard that he was on his farm when this happened to him.”
Paul Lopez
“And what was found on the farm.”
Voice of: Resident of Indian Creek Village
“I was told they found bicycle and his Mayan bag. That is what we found there. Especially the are accusing our chairman about this and I more believe that our chairman is innocent in this and I don’t know who would want to do anything like that to him. Who would want him to be out of this place?”
Police have detained Chairman Domingo Choc for questioning. Indian Creek has, for years, struggled with a widening rift between supporters of the alcalde system, and those aligned with the village council. That divide deepened when Canti began distributing land on his own, without formal approval. The growing dispute, and now his disappearance, has drawn close attention from Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Dr. Louis Zabaneh.
Louis Zabaneh
Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs
“Really, we are certainly very concerned, regardless of what the situation is that anybody disappears like that. We are hoping that there is some explanation to what is going on. Just the very fact that the alcalde decided to create documents and call them titles and say it is the consent orders that gave him the right to do that, infuriated a number of other persons, included the private land owners, part of that is being subdivided and the other villagers who understand that to do that you need the ministry of natural resources.”
Dr. Zabaneh says despite the deep divisions in Indian Creek, there is no justification for anyone’s life to be put at risk. He points to what he calls a troubling development, the so‑called “communal land certificates” issued by Marcus Canti also covered privately owned land. That land, about three hundred acres, is managed by the Ya’axché Conservation Trust. We heard directly from the organization’s Executive Director, Christina Garcia, about how the issue unfolded and what it means moving forward.
Christina Garcia
Christina Garcia, Executive Director, Ya’axché Conservation Trust
“We were told that the issuance of these house lots amount to two hundred certificates that were given. But we have managed to get information from the community, and we are now told that is two hundred and eighty land certificates issued to community members in Indian Creek. While Ya’axche’ understands the need of the community we are calling for due process to be followed.”
Dr. Louis Zabaneh
“The ministry wrote a letter to the alcalde to explain that it is the ministry of natural resources that has that authority and asked him to cease and desist from continuing to issue out these documents he claims are titles.”
With Canti now missing, Indian Creek stands at a tipping point. The land dispute has escalated into a troubling human concern.
Voice of: Indian Creek Village Resident
“Also they are threatening the family of the chairman. They are saying if they cannot find the alcalde they will kidnap one of the chairman’s children until there is information on where the alcalde or his body is then they will release one of the child.”
Dr. Louis Zabaneh
“We heard that members supporting the alcalde had gone to the home of the chairman for the village council and that the field station for Ya’axche’ was also tampered with by members of the community. So we are very concerned by the situation.”
As authorities work to locate Marcus Canti, Minister Zabaneh is calling for calm. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.
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