History

In 1888 the colonial government proposed establishing 3 Indian reservations, with the southern one covering Settlement 224 and Settlement 201. Some people doubted San Antonio was in British Honduras because it took 3 days to travel there from Settlement 202.^[1]

The Maya used to be the highest tax payers of land in the colony. After 1929, wage-work was hard to find, and prices for agricultural goods sold by Maya farmers crashed. Many peasants tried to avoid paying taxes, but the state vigorously pursued Crown rents, often threatening criminal suits.

The rate of criminal cases per capita was 63 percent higher in the Toledo District than the national average, with a "large majority of the Criminal Cases tried summarily. . . for recovery of arrears of Crown rents.’’

By March, 1932, the situation had grown so severe that more than a hundred Mayas walked from San Antonio to the Catholic Mission in Punta Gorda Town to plead for assistance. The Bishop wrote to the colonial government: ‘‘Some sixty Indians from San Antonio came to me about an hour ago – as a delegation of the whole pueblo, over one hundred being in town here right now – to explain their distress.’’ He described the dilemma: "The general depression and consequent want of a market for their usual produce – hogs and agricultural produce now esp. beans – makes it impossible for many to pay their rent to the Government ($10 a year). Many are in arrears for 1931. Instructions have been received by the District Commissioner from Belize Town . . . not to issue any permits for cultivation for 1932 to those who have not paid the arrears of 1931. Many have been summoned, the cases being heard right now whilst I am writing this. The Indians are willing and anxious to do all in their power to pay. To make the necessary money they want to ask for two things: (1) a market for their beans etc. be taken in kind. . . . The poor men came here backing their sacks the 25 miles & can’t sell them after not for 5cts a quart. (2) Work from the Government on the Road 10. Both the San Antonio & (branching off) the 10 miles San Pedro Columbia road are in sorest need of work. They would gladly work for 25 cts a day and rations much cheaper than the work the Government does with its usual workers. – The money would go back to the Government in form of taxes."^[1]

In January 1962, Francisco Sagastume, a political opponent of President Ydigoras Fuentes and unsuccessful candidate for the constituency of Petén, arrived with 19 Guatemalan followers and one renegade Belizean at the village of Settlement 201. There he announced that liberation was at hand. On receiving the news 10 of the party discreetly returned to Guatemala in the rain, whilst the leader and the others went on to Settlement 224.

In Settlement 201 he had solemnly burned photographs of Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, together with a Union Jack. Having thus symbolically destroyed the British Empire, he should not have been surprised that the Indians in Settlement 224 were hostile. Their ancestors had left Guatemala three generations ago to avoid conscription by press gang methods and the forced loans that were then common in Central American politics.

The party was requested to leave town, and the local policeman provided them with a truck to do so. They went to within three miles of Punta Gorda Town, and abandoned the vehicle, having run out of petrol.

The leader and three others were rounded up the next day by the police of Punta Gorda Town, which were backed up by a detachment of the Royal Hampshire Regiment. One of the men had already given himself up, and the rest were captured a day later.

In March 1962 they were tried in the Stann Creek Town Assizes of the Supreme Court before the Chief Justice. Sagastume and his Belizean accomplice received sentences of 10 years' hard labour. Two of the Guatemalans were bound over to keep the peace and seven were acquitted. The leader and his aide served about nine months of their sentence, and in December 1962 petitioned the Governor of British Honduras for pardon, which was granted.

The prompt movement of troops and the complete serenity of the people of Belize, who made no manifestations outside the Guatemalan Consulate, did not pass unnoticed in Guatemala, where the Government maintained a correct attitude of detachment from the whole affair.^[2]

This village was sometimes referred to as San Antonio Nuevo because this was the second settlement for the Mayans from Settlement 201.^[3]

In 1924 an unusual amount of deaths from Malaria was reported in Settlement 224, Settlement 256 and Settlement 2.^[4]

In 1948 anti-malarial work was carried out.^[5]

In 1949 the police force consisted of 1 officer.^[5]