San Ignacio Town Hall Renamed After Mayor Earl Trapp, Mayor Responds to Criticism

The San Ignacio/Santa Elena Town Hall has officially been renamed the Earl Trapp Building, a decision made by the current town council as the facility undergoes exterior renovations. Mayor Trapp told Love News that the move is part of shifting the culture of not only honoring public servants after their passing. He acknowledged the critics who claim the decision is self-serving but maintained that his contributions to the twin towns since taking office in 2015 have been significant and lasting. According to Trapp, the renaming is a tribute initiated by the council in recognition of his years of dedicated service.

Earl Trapp, Mayor of San Ignacio/ Santa Elena: “I must say that many people have said to me and some of my counselors that I believe that we have the synthetic turf there that should be named after the mayor or the Town Hall building. So one of my counselors took it on his own and he worked with the other counselors and they passed a resolution about six months ago to name the building as Earl Trap Building, San Ignacio/ Santa Elena Town Hall. So they said through the resolution they believe that this should be accredited to my valuable contribution that I have brought under my leadership to this community. Don’t wait for a man dead to tell him he’s good. This is the time to acknowledge people when they’re alive. And I must say on record that we have a program that should be launched any time soon where we’ll be acknowledging people that are alive. While they’re alive, we’ll acknowledge them for their contribution to this society. So we honestly, I mean it’s sad, I don’t see what’s wrong with it, but we are just about envy and hate, some of us, not everyone. Some of us are about envy and hate and we have to move away from that. When the Air Strip in Belmopan was named after Hector Silva, was it funds from his pocket? When the highway, Philip Goldson International Airport, was funds from Philip Goldson ? When we build Curl Thompson building, was it funds from his pocket? No. It’s a matter of appreciation and acknowledgement for people and their hard work in this community.”

Love News notes that this decision was made by a voting process within the council’s caucus.