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"After gathering at the police station to demand further searches, a large group of villagers with machetes and rifles boarded a bus and went to ACES."

Ok, there's a large group with machetes and rifles at the POLICE STATION and they were not stopped?????

"suspected arson"?????

It's really a tragedy that this happened to ACES,but I think the quotations above are an equal tragedy. It's time to stop the madness people, and those of us who call this our home must be the ones to do it.

well said, james.

I think it's very easy to act detached when you are. Imagine you just had your lifes work raised to the ground for no reason other than some antiquated bush doctors advice and the fact that those limes look familiar!!!!

I am sure the ACES people, who I dont know, have said some things in the heat of the moment that on reflection will not be in keeping with their feelings. I hope I could be as controlled if I was this unfortunate.

CNN Article:

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/a...ndex.html#fbid=rbTs-VCIEwu&wom=false

Some one should be looking into what the finger pointer was doing at the time of disappearance of the children.

Children missing; business burned; local psychic didn't predict charge

It's day eight and the disappearance of two siblings from San Marcos, Toledo remains a mystery. Since Monday police have been scouring the area, but up to news time, there are still no solid leads as to what could have happened to Onelia and Benjamin Rash, two school aged children who went missing on August thirtieth. On Sunday, a group of angry villagers set ablaze a crocodile sanctuary owned by a US couple. This was fuelled by telltale predictions from a local psychic who has now been charged. The focus of the search for the Rash children has shifted to the arson of the sanctuary and the story has caught the attention of the international media. News Five's Isani Cayetano reports.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

benjamin rash

The ruins of what was once a million dollar investment developed to protect local crocodile species a few miles northeast of Punta Gorda Town remains under heavy police and military guard. The American Crocodile Education Sanctuary, founded by Vincent and Cherie Rose, was reduced to ashes on Sunday by a gang of angry villagers in search of two missing children. The busload of men armed with rifles and machetes entered the property on the advice of a soothsayer. Despite not finding Benjamin and Oneila Rash they set the place ablaze. The oracle however, has since led many to believe that the Roses absconded from the United States as fugitives of the law. Vincent Rose has flatly denied those allegations.

oneila rash

Vincent Rose, Owner, ACES

"We didn't move here running away from something. We came here to help and to build a beautiful education facility and tourism facility for Toledo and that's where we chose to move and build it all."

But Rose did not get to enjoy the fruits of his labor. Instead he has been tried in the court of public opinion for allegedly abducting the children to feed his crocodiles. Rumors of his hatred for children have been spreading throughout the village of San Marcos like wildfire.

Marcos Choc, Resident, San Marcos Village

"Well I'm a tour guide and I work with these people and I spoke to Vince and Vince is a guy [who] told me that he hates children, he hates kids right. So that is why I'm putting my; I'm saying that he's the one doing it."

Furthermore Rose has been found guilty by a jury of his peers for committing that crime simply based on a psychic reading.

vincent rose

Vincent Rose

"It's the stupidest thing you ever heard of and so is how that [uh], how it came to be. I guess it came from a psychic?"

That woman, forty-two year old Delfina Alvarez, has since been arrested and charged by Punta Gorda Police for the crime of pretending to be a fortune teller. She has pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of one thousand, five hundred dollars. The fine however, does not compare to the damage that has been done to Rose's lifelong investment.

Vincent Rose

"They misunderstood everything. They went on a wrong tangent and went against the law and as far as I'm concerned all they've done is done a terrorist act in your country Belize."

The callousness with which the villagers destroyed Rose's property has completely eclipsed the ongoing search effort to locate the missing children. Today makes a week and a day and they have not returned home. Assisting Punta Gorda police every step of the way is Senator Pulcheria Teul.

Pulcheria Teul

Senator Pulcheria Teul, Exec. Dir. Toledo Maya Women's Council

"We have been working since Thursday morning with the police here in Punta Gorda [Uhm] especially with Mr. Mariano, the superintendent. We have also made visits to the family in San Marcos in trying to give some comfort to the family and some reassurance that we will do everything possible to recover the children."

Those efforts are yet to prove successful. Punta Gorda police, over the past forty-eight hours have arrested and detained one individual whom they say had photographs of Benjamin and Oneila Rash on the day they went missing. Further investigation however, could not confirm his involvement in their disappearance. He has since been released.

The burning question for most has to be the reason why these children were allowed to venture twelve miles away from home to sell fruits.

Pedro Rash, Father of Missing Children

"Well, I told them already, I told their mother that they don't have to go again because school would be open Wednesday. I told them start to prepare and pack your books but kids like they usually go from the market and sell noh. But that is just the second time they come off from Hopeville and sell."

Punta Gorda Police are investigating both the disappearance of nine year old Oneila and Benjamin Rash as well as the arson of American Crocodile Education Sanctuary separately and no closer to finding the children or the suspected arsonists. Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.

Cherie Rose was vice president of the local Belize Tourism Industry Association chapter but resigned after she and her husband were forced to leave the Toledo District following death threats by angry villagers. The B.T.I.A. today issued a press release expressing its unity with the Roses. As such, the organization has established an account at the Belize Bank to assist in providing financial support for the displaced family. Anyone wishing to make a donation can do so by making a deposit to Belize Bank account number 630-1-1-10130, the “Vince and Cherie Rose Fire Victim” account.

Channel 5

Gwen, Mr Rose said savage on Channel 7 news. I was urging caution before people leap to conclusion and know truth.

Mr. James you said it very well. Too many intemperate words used too soon before and after.What was said on Channel 7 news by Roses very unfortunate and unhelpful. Everybody saw and heard the news and Roses lost much sympathy by intemperate remarks.The sentiments used in Facebook should have been the sentiment used when talking to local media. Now many questions. Now this thread posts a guide in PG says Mr. Rose hates children. Why these neighbors not get along? Indigenous people and conservancy areas must get along to be successful and to encourage government support. I think Gwen should seek out more truths and ascertain facts about situations before jumping to conclusions. Everbody needs to take a breath and be respectful and see this tragedy as a very humna flaw when angers and ignorance on both sides rule emotions.This could be an opportunity for everbody to come together for the children's sake.There is an opportunity for all sides to reason respecfully together and educate each side to learn the truth. Let us pray for safe return for the missing children.Let us pray to help EVERYONE in their hour of need. Let us pray for better understanding and love for each other. Let the mature voices like James; help heal this breach and intemperate words and intolerant actions. Everyone must do their part while the law runs its course.

Timmy show me any where in my posts I jumped to a conclusion. Whenever anyone says "you should" they are pointing a finger. This is a discussion forum, and that's what we do here. Having an opinion isn't necessarily having the truth. It shows interest, concern, and a point of view. Sometimes discussing a subject brings people together. Sometimes it doesn't. My opinion is the Roses weren't involved in the circumstances of the children going missing. The timeline proves that. It is a tragedy that their lifes work was destroyed because of a misguided psychic, and the subsequent inciting of an unlawful arson mob. What was done accomplished nothing to get the children back or to provide answers. Timmy before you accuse me of anything, look at what you are doing. If you are accusing me of something, so you are doing just what you are telling others what not to do. That is called hypocrisy.

Hope they find the kids soon this is frustrating and sad .The bickering ,opinions are not helping anyone but the author (s).Can we just focus on the kids , and try to lick our wounds as a community .
P.S. We shall not forget the Roses