Crique Sarco

History

Crique Sarco, a long-established Q’eqchi village, is the furthermost village in the region, approximately 40 miles from Punta Gorda. The village has approximately 240 residents and 44 households. Until the completion of the Moho Bridge, this village was isolated and was accessible only by boat along the Temash River. The road from Sunday Wood is completed to all-weather status, but experiences a high amount of flash flooding and washout during the height of the wet season (June-July).  A bridge has been built across the Temash River from material taken from the old Sibun River Bridge  on the Hummingbird Highway. 

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The actual village lies within the Crique Sarco Indian Reservation, which stretches further to the south, though most farming now appears to take place north of the river, along the new road, which is National land. Several of the villagers have leases in this area, though by no means all of them. The village is the only one in the immediate vicinity of the park that practices cattle rearing, some of the pastures being substantial.

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Economic activity in the village is predominantly subsistence agriculture, though there are some large pastures and some cacao cultivation. Some villagers travel to Punta Gorda to sell arts and crafts (beadwork, baskets and rosewood carvings). Historically road conditions have limited the market share for the village of Crique Sarco, however with the completion of the all-weather road and regular village bus service, the situation is changing quickly.

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The village used to be a local administrative centre, with a police station and airstrip, though both are now abandoned. There is a primary school, community telephone and the Alcaldes village police system. A few hand pumps and local creeks supply water, although as the dry season progresses, households do collect water directly from the Temash River. Electricity generator is only infrequently operated, as it is difficult to bring sufficient diesel fuel to the village and the cost is very high. Housing is mostly thatched.