Iguana Rana, it's the happening Friday evening happy hour spot in the Fort Street Tourism Village. But if you went to Iguana Rana last weekend, we hope you had a good time because that was your last weekend there. Despite it's breakthrough popularity, the Iguana Rana will be closed to business this Friday. Proprietor Roque Escalante today told us that he has been notified by the Port Authority that his business is posing a security risk to a port of entry, namely the tourism village, and he will no longer be allowed to operate to serve Belizean clientele. He told us he thinks its part of a conspiracy.
Roque Escalante, Owner
"8 weeks ago we started opening on Friday nights. The business was very good, it became the hottest spot in Belize. All of a sudden we received a letter from the Port Authority or from the management of FSTV saying we can no longer open on Friday nights because of security reasons. I believe personally that it is victimization. Somebody went to the Port, because we have had cases where the Customs is on us sometime and they came and checked us and saw that we are running a straight business. Then we have different permits that we had to get. We got them, we opened the place, and now all of a sudden we have the Port. I feel like other people are using the Port Authority as a pawn to get us to shut our door so other businesses can get back their clientele."
Alfonso Noble,
So do you think that you are taking away clientele from other establishments that offer similar services like you?
Roque Escalante,
"I think that is so. Before we didn't have Iguana-Rana and now we have 400 to 500 people on a Friday night but it's a fair playing field, obviously we are offering something better than the other places."
Alfonso Noble,
Can you understand the concern that the Port Authority has been putting forth in that they say it is a security risk because it's a port of entry and because Diamonds International is here?
Roque Escalante,
"Okay the way we look on that is that when we invested our money in this place the deal was that we could open on weekends, provided that we provided extra security. We've been paying extra security. If you've been here on a Friday night, you are frisked with a metal detector, you are double checked, you are screened, which they do not do when you have a regular tour day. I am sure you came in here and they did not frisk you with the metal detector and we pay for extra police, extra security, and we're willing to do whatever needed. If we have put ten more security we will put ten more security. We don't want anybody to break in the place but we want a fair shot at our investment.
I believe while there are ships here and people on the dock, I understand that. I no problem with that. Friday nights, if there is a ship on Saturday then I won't open on Friday and they need to sweep the place on Saturday then we'll pay for that. Like I said, when we opened the place it was offered to us on a Friday night. Why eight weeks after the fact? Then we have this problem, 8 weeks after we opened. Why didn't it happen before?
We will try our best, I am talking to my attorney right now to see which way we can go with this thing. If it's fair, I have no problem. My problem, as I believe, is that it's a conspiracy, that's what I believe."
Andre O'Brien, Click and Sit Internet Cafe
"We were informed earlier that we won't be able to open on Friday night anymore which is basically opened to the locals."
Alfonso Noble,
Why won't you be able to open?
Andre O'Brien,
"We are being informed that it is a security issue, being the port that we are in. We have a lot of cruise ship passengers back and forth and they are saying it's a security issue."
Alfonso Noble,
On Friday will you all be opening?
Andre O'Brien,
"No, we will not be opened. I don't believe that the village is going to be open for us to be open and if they're not open, then we cannot be opened. Even if we are open and the security is at the door and they're not letting people in, what's the sense of us being opened."
Officials at the Port Authority today told us the business is not being allowed to operate because it poses a security risk to a port of entry. Tomorrow there will be a ship making a port call so Escalante says he'll remain open but he does not know if Belizeans will be allowed to enter the village.
