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74-632: Guanaja is one of the Bay Islands of Honduras and is in the Caribbean . It is about 70 kilometres (43 mi) off the north coast of Honduras, and 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from the island of Roatan . One of the cays off Guanaja, also called Guanaja or Bonacca or Low Cay (or just simply, The Cay ), is near the main island, and contains most of the approximately 5,538 people who live in Guanaja. The densely populated cay has been described as

148-549: A British colony, attracted immediate attention in the United States, where it was universally regarded as a direct violation of the convention of July 5, 1850, known as the Clayton–Bulwer Treaty . This convention provides that "the governments of the United States and Great Britain, neither the one nor the other, shall over occupy, or fortify, or colonize, or assume or exercise any dominion over Costa Rica, Nicaragua,

222-734: A borderline tropical monsoon climate ( Köppen Am ), very close to being a tropical rainforest climate ( Af ). The weather is very warm to hot and humid throughout the year, with rainfall fluctuating from moderate to very heavy depending upon the strength of the northeast trade winds and of Caribbean hurricanes . At the time of the 2013 Honduras census, Guanaja municipality had a population of 5,445. Of these, 70.19% were Mestizo , 12.18% Black or Afro-Honduran , 9.91% White , 3.22% Indigenous (2.66% Miskito ) and 4.51% others. The Caracol people are an English-speaking people who have been established in Northern Honduras (specifically,

296-587: A different culture, so each important date in the year should be highlighted; for example, on September 15 (independence from Honduras), October 31 (Halloween), December 25 (Christmas) etc. What they call Old Junk or Junkanoo (old garbage) is a group of people in masks wearing old rags even up to palm trees and running through the streets of El Cayo or The Key they consider it something very fun to be part of their culture and something that has been done for years. In 1502, Christopher Columbus came to this island. He called it Isla de Los Pinos (Isle of Pines) although it

370-558: A direct consequence of the passage of the hurricane sweeping across the island for two days, are slowly making a comeback. Guanaja was also known as: Inhabited by the Payans Indian, Christopher Columbus landed 30 July 1502, Pedro Moreno landed in 1524, Spanish slaves raids 1516–1526, buccaneering during 16th and 17th century and removal of Indians to Golfete Dulce . British Colony of Bay Islands 1852. Ceded to The Republic of Honduras 1861. The residents of Guanaja also have

444-523: A posthumous tribute. To this new rebellion, the government responded by sending a military contingent, who ended up defeating, capturing and beheading Romero. After these bloody events, Olancho became an almost depopulated department. Old independent sentiments persist among Olanchanos , although the department's role as an agricultural producer has made it an integral part of the Honduran economy. The former president of Honduras, Porfirio Lobo , hails from

518-791: A small number of streams, which usually end at mangrove swamps (of which there are plenty on the Islands). There are, however, a large number of cool water springs in the Islands. Roatán features an intricate system of waterways on the south of the island, formed by the salt-water lagoons and drowned valleys on the island. The archipelago has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports significant populations of white-crowned pigeons , chimney swifts and yellow-naped amazons . The islands were anciently known as Las Guanajas, from Guanaja , first seen by Christopher Columbus in his fourth and last voyage to

592-452: A virtual extension of Roatán, since it is separated only by a long stretch of mangrove swamp . This island has a small elevated hill at its center, and is characterized by a large number of caves, most of which are located along a cliff on its western end. Guanaja is the second largest island and is even more mountainous than Roatán. Geographically it features a series of hills, the highest of which rises to over 350 m above sea level, which

666-523: Is 208 inhabitants per km , with the highest concentrations in Roatán and Utila. Roatán is the municipality with the most inhabitants, 29,636 in total. This municipality is followed by José Santos Guardiola, Guanaja, and Utila. The crude birth rate in the Bay Islands is 34.3. The mortality rate is 4.3, while the fertility rate is 3.7. The infant mortality rate is 24.7, while life expectancy in the islands

740-465: Is 72.6 years (2001 census). In 2001, the migratory balance was 13,109 immigrants vs. 3,789 emigrants, leaving a net migratory balance of 9,320.34 residents. During the pre-Hispanic period, the Bay Islands were inhabited by the Pech people and other indigenous peoples. Archaeological remains found in the area, such as those on the island of Guanaja, show that these indigenous peoples originally inhabited all

814-592: Is a violation of the treaty of July 5, 1850." Expostulations to this effect were at once addressed by the American government to that of the United Kingdom, and an elaborate correspondence was carried on through the years 1854–1856, between Mr. Buchanan, American minister in London, and Lord Clarendon, on the subject, but without any satisfactory result. The United Kingdom hastily augmented her naval forces on

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888-463: Is famous for its placer gold with concessions where today the mining company Eurocantera ( Goldlake Group) exploits ethical gold . First exploited by the Spaniards during the colonial period, these gold deposits are still productive. Local men and women may be seen panning for gold in riverbanks during the dry season . Extensive gold dredging is also underway during the dry season in much of

962-594: Is only two miles long. Bay Islands Department The Bay Islands consist of eight islands and 53 small cays lying 15 kilometres (10 mi) to 60 kilometres (40 mi) off the northern coast of Honduras. These islands have been administered as a department of the Republic of Honduras since 1872. Located on the Caribbean Sea, not far east of the entrance to the Gulf of Honduras, they are clearly visible from

1036-545: Is part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef and second only to the Great Barrier Reef off the coasts of Australia . Currently, there is still access to fresh water on Guanaja, and several waterfalls can be seen. Since 2021 the entire island and its cays have been designated as a protected Ramsar site . Christopher Columbus landed on Guanaja on his fourth voyage in 1502. Notably, this was

1110-479: Is the first language of all native islanders regardless of race, and Spanish is spoken second, whereas mainland Honduras is primarily Spanish-speaking. This comes as a result of the island's past as a British colony. With the steady influx of mainland Hondurans migrating to the islands an increase in Spanish has arisen, but because of the tourism and cruise ship industry that support the islands, English continues to be

1184-438: Is the highest elevation present in the Bay Islands. Alluvial plains characterize the areas between the hills. Utila is third in size and is characterized by low mangrove swamps and a few small, low hills on its eastern end. The soils on this island are uncharacteristically fertile, perhaps owing to the islands's flat topography as well as volcanic tuffs and basalt lavas through coralline limestone . Barbareta, Morat, and

1258-479: Is the largest of all the 18 departments into which Honduras is divided. The department covers a total surface area of 24,057 km² and has an estimated 2015 population of 537,306 inhabitants. The departmental capital is Juticalpa , which is also the see of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Juticalpa , which covers the department. Rugged mountains rise in the western and northern portions of

1332-532: The Venice of Honduras because of the waterways that run through it. The other two main settlements on Guanaja are Mangrove Bight and Savannah Bight. Smaller settlements includes Pelican Reef, East End and North East Bight. The primary source of income for the islanders is fishing and shrimping. Tourism is confined to a handful of small resorts that cater to divers, snorkelers and adventure travellers. The island's warm, clear waters support an extensive coral reef that

1406-612: The river , including deep into the mountainous regions of the Rio Patuca (into which the Guayape feeds). The Cave of Talgua , also known as "The Cave of the Glowing Skulls," is located near Catacamas . It was used as a burial site by the native peoples, and over time, the bones left there were covered by the calcite dripping from the ceiling, giving them an eerie, sparkling appearance. Radiocarbon testing indicated that

1480-471: The Bay Islands the Honduran government made Guanaja the official name of the island but the residents kept the old name for as long as they could and older inhabitants throughout the islands still call it Bonacca. The main settlement is called The Cay, an abbreviation of Lower Cays, the original name. It was first settled by the Haylocks who had moved to the two little cays that lay about a half kilometre off

1554-471: The Bay Islands were the scene of frequent conflict between Spaniards and non-Spanish pirates. On the three main islands there live descendants of British settlers (mainly English ) who occupied the islands in the 18th century. By the mid-19th century, under the Wyke-Cruz treaty, many of the descendants of the white colonists of Great Britain changed their citizenship to Honduran after the country regained

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1628-674: The Bay Islands) since the early 19th century and are mainly of African descent with some European admixture. They are originally migrants from the English-speaking Caribbean who came to work on the construction of railroads as well as on banana plantations for the United Fruit Co. Caracol is a Spanish term that literally translates as conch, snail or shell and relates the people of the Bay Islands to their unique environment and their seafaring culture. English

1702-549: The Cayman Islands to work in agriculture. At present, the black inhabitants of the Bay Islands are not a genetically homogeneous group. Some black caribs with European ancestry and lighter skin refer to themselves as "browns" while referring to those with less European ancestry and darker skin as "colored". The economy of the Bay Islands depends directly on two sectors – tourism and fisheries, representing approximately 50% of gross island product and both closely linked to

1776-728: The Ebanks, the Hydes and the Greenwoods. Angelo Elwin, son of the first magistrate of the Bay Island who resided in Roatan, was the first person to settle on the upper north side of the island. Elwin's bride was a Moore and three or four of her brothers followed her from Barbarat to Bonacca. The Moores like the Elwins had come to the Bay Islands from Belize . Unlike other settlers, Angelo Elwin

1850-637: The English settlers were in vain. Walker was captured by Captain Nowell Salmo, turned over to Honduran authorities, and executed on September 12, 1860. The population of the Bay Islands in 2010 was 49,158, according to the INE Population and Housing Census. It is the department with the smallest population in Honduras. 25,182 are women and 23,976 are men. The population density of the department

1924-615: The Hog Islands are all small and rugged. Barbareta can be distinguished by the fact that it contains numerous hills, the tallest one reaching a height of 143 m (469 ft), above sea level. Approximately one-third of Barbareta is covered by serpentinite, making it the island with the largest deposit of serpentine among the Bay Islands. Morat, the smallest and flattest island, consists of just one ridge with two hills, which are composed mainly of sedimentary rocks, with some serpentinite intrusions. The Bay Islands have no rivers and

1998-454: The Honduran mainland town of La Ceiba and a twice-weekly ferry from Trujillo. Along with private boats and charter planes, there are now flights from Roatan to Guanaja daily. Travel between Roatan and Guanaja is now also possible by the Galaxy ferry on select days of the week. Currently, the main transportation is limited to boats. There are some cars and small motorcycles for rent, but the road

2072-530: The Mosquito shore, or any part of Central America." The matter was brought under the attention of Congress, and the committee of foreign relations of the U.S. senate, after a full consideration, reported "that the islands of Roatán, Bonacca, Utila, etc, in and near the bay of Honduras, constitute part of the territory of the republic of Honduras, and therefore form a part of Central America; and, in consequence, that any occupation of these islands by Great Britain

2146-544: The New World, on July 30, 1502. The Admiral named it 'Isle of Pines', and claimed it for Spain. It was from this island that he then encountered the coast of the American continent, on which he landed on the 14th of August following, at the point now called Punta Castilla de Trujillo . Pech Indians inhabited the islands, and they used boats to trade with Honduras, Yucatán, and (allegedly) Jamaica . Notwithstanding Spanish laws prohibiting slavery, governors interested in

2220-739: The Olancho area to combat drug trafficking. Many multinational corporations as well as charitable and religious organizations with personnel in Honduras actively discourage their members from visiting Olancho or suggest caution, as do the governments of the US, Canada, France, New Zealand and the UK, among others. At the time of the 2013 Honduras census, Olancho Department had a population of 520,761. Of these, 94.54% were Mestizo , 3.39% White , 1.23% Indigenous (0.71% Pech , 0.21% Lenca , 0.16% Nahua ), 0.60% Black or Afro-Honduran and 0.24% others. Olancho

2294-517: The Spanish, provoking an attempt by the Spaniards to drive them out of the colony. This attempt was initially unsuccessful, but in March 1650, the Spanish finally succeeded in retaking Port Royal. The events which followed, so far as they concern these islands, are thus narrated by the Bishop Pelaez: "On the 24th of September 1781, advices reached Truxillo, which were immediately communicated to

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2368-489: The West India station, and her example was promptly followed by the United States; and, for a time, the peace of the two countries hung upon the discretion of a few naval commanders, acting under orders necessarily vague and indefinite. At this critical moment the government of Honduras despatched a minister to London, who took the ground that the question at issue was one that primarily concerned Honduras, and he demanded

2442-470: The archipelago’s environment. All other activities provide services to these sectors, either directly as in the case of transportation or indirectly such as real estate and construction. The dynamic character of these sectors has led to accelerated growth over the last two decades, a phenomenon that has induced population growth rates approaching 8% annually, largely as a result of migration from various parts of Honduras and elsewhere. The Bay Islands serve "as

2516-409: The arrest of a deputy named Rosales caused a rebellion against the highest authorities of the department and the central government. Led by Colonels Barahona, Zavala, and Antúnez, more than a thousand rebels marched towards Tegucigalpa in 1865. Faced with this situation, the president of the republic, General José María Medina , organized and led a military expedition to counter the rebels. At the end of

2590-505: The burials were made around 900 B.C., well before the rise of the Mayans and other civilizations. The ossuary chamber was discovered in 1994 by a Peace Corps volunteer named Timothy Berg, along with two Catacamas locals named Desiderio Reyes and Jorge Yáñez, and research is still being conducted in the area. In the 18th and 19th century, Olancho resisted government authority from Tegucigalpa, resulting in armed conflicts. On December 7, 1864,

2664-461: The confrontation, Medina and his men imposed themselves on the rebels, capturing the leaders whom he shot, beheaded and buried. Several of the towns and villages of the Departments of Olancho Honduras were burned along with their inhabitants, and many of the rebels were killed in combat. Following this were many deportations and a mass exodus of Olanchanos to other parts of the country, reducing

2738-516: The department is covered with rainforests , though the influx of impoverished, farmers and intense timber extraction have increased deforestation rates in the area. A portion of the Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve , a tropical rainforest with diverse wildlife and declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO , straddles the border of Olancho and the neighboring departments of Gracias a Dios and Colón . The Guayape River

2812-675: The department, notably the Sierra de Agalta, the Montaña de Tembladeros, and the Montaña de Botaderos. Vast pine and hardwood forests cover these mountains. Central Olancho has rolling plains, watered by the Guayape River and its affluents. These plains, sometimes called pampas due to their similarity to the vast Argentinian plains, are famous for their large cattle herds and extensive farming. The main cities, capital Juticalpa and Catacamas , are located there. The eastern part of

2886-442: The department, specifically from the city of Juticalpa . Also former president now congressman Manuel Zelaya Rosales is from the city of Catacamas , also from the department. The Olancho Department remained as one of the most violent areas in Honduras until 2012. In June 2012, after a Drug Enforcement Administration agent killed a suspect in Honduras, it was confirmed that the US government has been running covert operations in

2960-472: The end of 2011, there were roughly 40. While there is only one road, from Mangrove Bight to Savannah Bight, the most common means of transportation are boats. A channel locally known as "The Canal" allows access from the south to the north side of the island without having to go all the way around. Guanaja is served by the Guanaja Airport (GJA). As of 2011, access to Guanaja is only by air flights from

3034-426: The entire island. These hilltops are often crowned by outcrops of exposed metamorphic rocks such as marble , amphibolite , and serpentine . The island's southern coast has an abundance of deep ports and wide inlets, or 'bights', protected by reefs, while its northern coast is, save for a few narrow passages, largely inaccessible, due to extensive coral reef growth. The island of Saint Helena has been described as

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3108-485: The feeble state of Honduras was left alone to contest these violent proceedings. Her government remonstrated energetically, but without obtaining redress; and finally, in 1844, the British government instructed Mr. Chatfield, consul-general, to apprise the Honduras authorities, that "when Col. Macdonald hauled down the flag of that state in Roatan, it was by order of the British government... no act of sovereignty followed on

3182-483: The first spoken and dominant language among native island peoples. Over time the form of English spoken by the Caracol has changed. The language differs mostly in morphology but also in pronunciation and accent and, to a lesser extent, in syntax and vocabulary, from the English of the other British Caribbean colonies. Evidenced by the usage of the wide variety of old standard English terms and words that are used throughout

3256-408: The first time he came across cacao, which is the core of chocolate. He landed on Soldado Beach on the north side of the island. In later years Cayman Islanders settled in the Bay Islands, which explains the diffusion of Spanish and English language. Homer Hickam was one of the first scuba explorers of Guanaja, first visiting in 1973. Along with a team of other scuba explorers, he extensively mapped

3330-543: The government at Comayagua, that certain Negroes and others, to the number of about 300 men, had constructed three forts at the entrance of the principal port of the island of Roatan, armed with 50 guns, and that three armed. Vessels cruised in the neighborhood, the object of the whole being to intercept the ships plying between the kingdom of Guatemala and Cuba. It was reported that these freebooters had 3000 barrels of provisions for their support, and that their object in holding

3404-504: The island, engulfing some 200 structures. The Honduran military was called on to help with the rescue, dropping water onto the flames and extinguishing it. There were no casualties. The island is part of the Islas de la Bahía y Cayos Cochinos Important Bird Area (IBA), designated as such by BirdLife International because it supports significant populations of white-crowned pigeons , chimney swifts and yellow-naped amazons . Guanaja has

3478-408: The island. However, they were eventually forced to relocate, or they were captured, enslaved, or killed after the foreign occupation of the Bay Islands. Due to this, the islands were practically uninhabited by the year 1528. The archipelago began to be populated again by European people due to the arrival of English, French, and Dutch buccaneers who established their camps on the islands. From then on,

3552-525: The islands passed under the sovereignty of Honduras. Many of the English settlers disagreed with this resolution. They sought the help of American filibuster William Walker in order to put pressure on the British government to keep the islands. Walker who in 1857 had been deposed from the presidency of Nicaragua, by a Central American army, decided to assist them. Walker arrived in Honduras, and landed in Trujillo with one hundred men, but his efforts to help

3626-532: The islands rapidly declined. Diego Velasquez , governor of Cuba, in 1516 formally authorized several companies to trade in Indian slaves. In 1526, Hernán Cortés , who had conquered Mexico, marched to Trujillo to depose a rival conquistador from Cuba. The remaining Pech sought his protection, which Cortés provided. He drove away the slave traders, despite their licenses from the authorities in Cuba. William Claiborne

3700-400: The islands were under the jurisdiction of the state of Honduras. This state of things continued until May, 1830, when the superintendent of the British establishment of Belize, as a measure of coercion against the republic, which had refused to surrender certain runaway slaves, made a descent on Roatan and seized it on behalf of the British crown. The federal authorities remonstrated, and the act

3774-411: The islands. During the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century, under British occupation, several contingents of black people arrived on these islands, among which three major groups stand out: (1) The Afro-colonial or French blacks, brought by the Spanish colonizers. (2) The Black Caribs or Garífunas . (3) The Anglo-Antilleans, known as English-speaking blacks, brought from Jamaica and

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3848-417: The islands. They are similar enough to be mutually intelligible and understood throughout the entire Bay Islands. The language can also be learned, although it is not taught in the general sense, whilst the accent derived from the wide variety of expatriates living and working on the Islands from North America and Europe. Transportation is sparse, and as of 2006, there were only three cars on the island, but by

3922-505: The major anchor site for Honduras's growing tourism industry, accounting for approximately 28% of all tourism arrivals." In 1990, an estimated 15,000 tourists came to the islands; by 1996 it was 60,000. According to the Honduran Institute of Tourism, during the year 2010 the islands of Roatán received 803,102 cruise shippers, 373,273 more than those received in 2009 (an increase of 86.8%). Total tourism receipts are estimated in

3996-719: The most difficult decision of his life: continue the quest for fame, or flee. Olancho premiered at the 2017 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in Missoula, Montana. Over the course of the following two years, the film went on to screen at dozens of international film festivals, including at the Rotterdam Film Festival in the Netherlands and the Berlin Film Festival in Germany. The film earned

4070-465: The mountainous mainland. The total surface area of the islands is 250 km (97 sq mi). In 2013, they had an estimated population of 71,500 people. The islands comprise three separate groups: Roatán is the largest island, with a length of about 60 kilometres (40 mi) and a maximum width of 14 kilometres (9 mi) at its widest point. Roatán is characterized by its mountainous backbone, composed of hilltops that run west-to-east across

4144-487: The neighborhood of US$ 55 million annually. Islander men frequently join on with the merchant marine or work on international cruise ships for several months of the year. This low-key existence began to change starting in the late 1960s, when tourists discovered the islands’ reefs, beaches, and funky culture. Since the late 1980s, the pace has picked up dramatically. The department is divided into five municipalities (municipalidades): Olancho Department Olancho

4218-594: The permission of the state government of Honduras." "A number applied for and obtained the requisite permission, and received grants of land. But another portion, incited by one or two white men among them, appealed, as British subjects, to the superintendent of Belize, Col. Macdonald, who immediately visited the island, in the British sloop-of war Bover, ran down the flag of Honduras, and, seizing Col. Loustrelet and his soldiers, landed them near Truxillo, and threatened them with death if they ventured to return." The republic of Central America had meantime been dissolved, and

4292-509: The population of Olancho. Manto lost his title of departmental head, which was transferred to Juticalpa. Three years later, in 1868, a young man Serapio Romero, known as Cinchonero , arrived in Juticalpa with a group of men to challenge Nazario Garay. Romero and Serapio dueled with machetes, with Serapio Romero victorious. Then, defying the central government, Romero unearthed the heads of Colonels Barahona, Antúnez and Zavala, and he paid them

4366-492: The port was to make it a refuge for their vessels, which were no longer allowed to go-to Jamaica… When this information reached Guatemala, Viceroy Galvez, "made arrangements to expel the intruders." The English seem to have made no other demonstration on the islands during the 18th century. They remained in the undisturbed occupation of Spain. "In 1821, when the Central American provinces achieved their independence,

4440-691: The proceedings of Macdonald. Meanwhile, the Cayman islanders continued to emigrate to Roatan, and, in 1848, the population numbered upward of 1,000. In 1850, the British organized the islands Roatan, Guanaja, Barbareta, Helena, Morat, and Utila into a colony under their rule, called the Bay Islands. A small party in the island favourable to British interests, was active in their efforts to secure English protection. "When visited by Capt. Mitchell, E. N., in 1850, he describes them as "electing their own magistrates, by universal suffrage," and "quite ignorant under what government they are placed." A Mr. William Fitzgibbon

4514-423: The reef system around the island for sport divers. He still owns property on the northeast end of the island. In late October 1998, most of the buildings and homes on the island were destroyed by Hurricane Mitch . The islanders have since rebuilt, and although there are still repercussions to the economy from Mitch, tourism has been recovering. The majority of the mangrove and pine forests, which were destroyed as

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4588-464: The slave trade labeled the Pech Indians cannibals, hostile, and opposed to Christianity. Based on this information, Queen Isabella I of Spain issued a decree granting license to the Spaniards to capture and sell the islanders. Under this decree, Spanish slave traders from Cuba raided the Bay Islands continuously from the time of their discovery for the next 20 years. As a result, the population of

4662-631: The south shore of the main island to get rid of the flies that plagued them during calm nights. They eventually stayed and later deeded the southernmost cay (Hog Cay) to the Kirkconnells. Many other families, among others the Boddens (later a portion of Boddens were renamed Bordens), the Phillips and the Woods, came later and by the 1880s a thriving community had developed. The village of Savana Bight

4736-459: The sovereignty of the latter state, with the reservation of trial by jury, freedom of conscience, etc., to the actual inhabitants. The principles of this convention were accepted by Honduras, but some of its details were viewed with disfavor by the Honduras congress, and it was returned to London for certain modifications. These changes were made, and the "colony of the Bay islands" ceased to exist, and

4810-419: The surrender of the islands, equally as a measure of justice to that republic, and as a means of withdrawing a dangerous issue between the United States and the United Kingdom, upon which each had committed itself beyond the power of receding. This solution was regarded with favor by both parties, and a convention was entered into between the United Kingdom and Honduras, whereby the Bay islands were placed under

4884-554: The territory, and they officially separated from the British Empire. However, it would take several decades for them to assimilate into the Honduran population. A 2013 census determined that 11.41% of the population of the Bay Islands is white. However, it has been confirmed that more than 40% of the population on the island of Roatán is of foreign origin. These are mostly white Americans and French Canadians, as well as some European immigrants who have decided to buy properties on

4958-484: The whole proceeding... In spite of this protest, however, and backed by the guns of Bermuda , the authorities appointed by Sir Charles Grey were duly installed in the islands. Two years after this occupation, on March 20, 1852, a royal warrant was issued, constituting the islands a colony, under the title of "colony of the Bay islands," of which proclamation was made in Roatan, by Col. Wodehouse, superintendent of Belize, Aug. 10, 1852. The proclamation of these islands as

5032-542: Was already known as Guanaca by its inhabitants. This name appears as early as 1511 on the Peter Martyr map , but it later was modified by English pirates, privateers and settlers and was pronounced Bonacca . There have been other names for the island over the years before the Bay Islands were turned over to Honduras as the English, the Dutch and the Spaniards modified the name to their liking. Upon gaining possession of

5106-518: Was chief justice, and acting chief magistrate. Some time in this year, a petition was drawn up by the British party, addressed to the governor of Jamaica, asking him to name magistrates and assume supreme authority in the island. Acting on this petition, Capt. Jolly in HMS Bermuda was sent to the islands. He called a meeting of the inhabitants, and declared them under the sovereignty of the United Kingdom. Chief Justice Fitzgibbon protested against

5180-484: Was disavowed by the British government." "The superintendents of Belize, however, seem to have kept a longing eye on the islands, and to have watched for a pretext to place them under their own jurisdiction. In 1838 their wishes were in part gratified. A party of liberated slaves...of the Grand Cayman islands , came to Roatan to settle. Col. Loustrelet, the commandant, apprised them that they could not do so without

5254-1094: Was founded by families from Olancho ; they were the Escalantes, the Peraltas, and the Zunigas. Later the Watlers from the Cayman Islands took up residence there as well. Later on, and also from Grand Cayman , came the Tatums, the Merrens, the Bennetts, the Forbes and others, who set up residence east of Savana Bight, calling the area East End, while the Parchmonts settled in some of the upper Cays. The first families to settle in North East Bight were

5328-575: Was in possession of a deed signed by the authorities in Roatan which granted him the land between Michael's Rock and the lower end of the Bay. The Moores acquired properties from Elvin and built their homes in what is now called Mangrove Bight. They were joined later by the Powerys and much later by the Johnsons and the Jacksons. On 2 October 2021, a fire at dawn grew out of control and swept through

5402-561: Was the first non-Spanish European to attempt settling the Bay Islands, after being granted a patent in 1638 to begin a colony on the island of Roatán. The English would be involved in the Bay Islands for the next two hundred years. Around this same period, Dutch, English, and French freebooters were leading raids on the Spanish in the Bay of Honduras. These raids largely avoided Claiborne's settlement. In 1642, English settlers from British Honduras (modern day Belize ) invaded and occupied Port Royal on Roatán. These same settlers also raided

5476-487: Was the subject of a 2017 feature-length documentary film of the same name. The documentary, which was directed and produced by American filmmakers Chris Valdes and Ted Griswold, focused on the lives of band members from Los Plebes de Olancho , a regional narco-corrido music band. The logline of the film is as follows: Manuel, a farmer from Olancho, Honduras, seeks fame by making music for the region’s drug cartels. When some of his song lyrics get him in trouble, Manuel must make

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