How safe is Belize with this going on?

[michael123]

Alleged police brutality lands popular Caye Caulker Tour Guide in critical condition

Friday, February 8th, 2013

 

 

The Professional Standard Branch Unit of the Police Department has launched an internal investigation into an alleged case of police brutality on the island of Caye Caulker. Well-known tour guide, Bert Nicholas, also known as “Ras Creek”, remains in a critical condition at the Intensive Care Unit at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH). It is alleged that his injuries came about after a January 11th confrontation with police that resulted in several head injuries on Nicholas. The injuries went unnoticed until Thursday, January 31st when he began complaining of severe headaches.

 

 

 

His common law wife Ann Sanson told The San Pedro Sun that Nicholas was onboard his boat, Heritage Cruze 2 and was brought in from the Caye Caulker Shark Ray Channel to a dock on the island by officers. Sanson went on to say that when Nicholas and his tourists were brought to the dock, a confrontation with members of Tourism Police Unit erupted, eventually leading to the police executing a beating on Nicholas. “He took out a tour around the island because it was one of the tourist’s birthday…The tourism police spotted them on the front dock and that is when he was beaten and taken to jail. He was beaten to the head and lips. He stayed two days in jail and then the police officers decided to take him to court on Tuesday (January 15th). He was not taken to a medical doctor he was just taken to jail… He never did tell me he was hit on his head. It was until Wednesday (January 30th) that he began complaining of a bad headache and that is when he said he was hit on the head,” said Sanson. She explained that the following day Nicholas’ headache got worse to the point that he became unconscious and by Saturday he had to be airlifted to Belize City for medical attention.

 

According to several residents on Caye Caulker, the tourists on board the vessel managed to capture the incident on their electronic gadgets but were all taken to the Police station, where they were forced to delete the recordings. Sanson explained that so far, Nicholas has undergone surgery to try and remove a blood clot that had been developing in his head for the past two weeks. “Doctor Cervantes, without knowing the story, was able to date that the blood was about two weeks old and he had to be taken for surgery where now he remains in the intensive care unit, in a comatose state,” detailed Sanson on Friday, February 1st. She explained that her common-law husband was making very small improvements. On Wednesday, February 6th, the improvements were such that he regained consciousness and continues to improve. While he is unable to consume solid foods, he is responding to his environment.

 

According to Sanson, no police official has spoken to Nicholas’ family members. Nicholas’ family is demanding an investigation, as well as the necessary disciplinary actions on the police responsible. “That should never happen. The police should never hit anyone because they should be showing the example. If they have trouble with somebody, they should handcuff the person and bring them under control. They don’t have to beat anyone, it makes no sense. They should be showing the good way in which people should behave. We want to see some justice because it is not right,” emphasized Sanson. According to the family, they are not only faced with a critical family member but a medical bill that was unnecessary and mounting.

 

Meanwhile the Officer Commanding Caye Caulker Police Station Sergeant Delfine Zuniga confirmed that indeed Nicholas was detained and charged and eventually taken to court, but could not say under what circumstances. However Sergeant Zuniga said that an investigation into the matter has started as of Tuesday February 4th. He explained that the officers on duty have been asked to submit a duty report and a statement as to what transpired the day in question. The Officer Commanding the Coastal Executive Unite Superintendent of Police Luis Castellanos indicated that the Professional Standard Branch of the Police Department has initiated an internal police investigation into the incident and made it clear that any officer found guilty of wrongdoings will be dealt with. The officer accused, identified only as Tourism Police Constable King, remains on active duty. Castellanos explained that he will remain on duty until a directive from the Commissioner of Police indicates otherwise.

[crewsweeper]

This looks like an isolated incident. Nothing happened that harmed toruists or cruisers. Perhaps there was a voilation of where the guide could or could not go or permit needed. Could have been for anything else. Belize police are not under US Civil Rights/Miranda-type court rulings and it could well be that the policeman committing the violence is found guilty. You hate to hear of something like this and certainly empathize with the guide and his family but there's nothing in this incident that should concern you or any cruiser about your safety.

[CENTEX CRUISER]

I wonder what happened in Chicago or Detroit last night ?

[michael123]

I wonder what happened in Chicago or Detroit last night ?

 

I don't pay to go to Chicago or Detroit on vacation. This is no where near an isolated incident in Belize. This place is crazy corrupt. They HELD THE TOURISTS HOSTAGE and made them delete videos of the incident before they would release them. This is 3rd world government at it's finest, yet because we can afford to cruise to these places and leave, we don't see what happens every day. I can't believe cruise companies still go here with the new reports of the violence that is going on. Not just random people, but police beating people in the middle of the street for no reason. This is far from and isolated incident if you keep up with the news in Belize.

[michael123]

For some of you who are unaware about Belize, here is the proof (6th deadliest country in the world). The sad part is that almost all of these can be linked to the Belize government. I have cruised may places, but this is just scary.

 

http://www.caribbean360.com/index.php/news/belize_news/656238.html#ixzz2JfrTV4Ti

 

http://www.guardian.bz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5758:said-musas-house-shot-at&catid=54:highlight

 

http://www.sanpedrosun.com/crime-and-violence/2013/01/28/steven-valencia-pup-cayo-chairman-found-murdered-in-his-home/

 

http://edition.channel5belize.com/archives/81226

 

http://ambergriscaye.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/449679/Re_Execution_of_Businessman_at.html

 

http://www.guardian.bz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5801:another-lebanese-man-killed&catid=39:crime&Itemid=73

 

http://edition.channel5belize.com/archives/81413

 

http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=24589

[michael123]

And this is from their own local news site! I would encourage you to be very careful and avoid authorities at all costs in Belize. They seem like the most dangerous threat! Too bad, this is a beautiful country!

http://edition.channel5belize.com/archives/82112

[3dogsrule]

Interesting articles. I was just there last week, my BF and I took a Coral Breeze tour to Caye Caulker. We had to leave the port's iron gates to hook up with Coral Breeze, and of my three times there this was the most serene and safe-feeling visit we've had; we weren't accosted and harrassed as we've been in the past, all the residents were very laid back, welcoming and friendly, and even port security was very cool. Once on Caulker, we never saw a policeman, and we had zero issues while there and had a lovely time on the island. Best visit we'd had to Belize.

[michael123]

I felt that way the first time we visited, but I think the hostility is focused on Americans that have relocated there and anyone assisting them. I just hope it doesn't spill over into the tourism sector. Just because it is a beautiful place, we have to always stay on guard as this is pretty much a 3rd world country when you leave the tourist areas.