Vance Cabral, he is the man who led ten tourists on that now ill fated and well, deadly dive and snorkeling trip in Placencia last Saturday. Today the tour operators licensing met to consider his fate. 7NEWS understands that there were two options: a complete revocation of his license or a mere suspension.
The 9 member committee met in an emergency session today at the Tourism Board officer where a decision was made. The BTB's Deputy Director for Product Development Anthony Mahler told 7NEWS this evening that they will speak to Cabral first before informing the media about the decision. We have received credible reports which say there are questions about whether Cabral even had a valid license at the time of last Saturday's incident. We also know that his dive shop, Advanced Diving, in Placencia has also been closed down. His co-worker tour guide Mark Tucker did not have a valid tour guide license and he will be dealt with when the tour guide licensing committee meets.
Meanwhile the two remaining survivors of the dive incident, 34-year-old Japanese national Yutaka Maeda and 38-year-old American Nancy Masters left Belize this morning. Masters headed back to Portland, Oregon and Maeda told us he is heading straight back to Japan. Before leaving this afternoon the two headed to the Airport Camp for a final farewell to the hero pilots at the BDF Air Wing who rescued them.
As for Abigale Brinkman who didn't survive the 55 hours at sea, her body will be flown out tomorrow for funeral services in her native Columbus, Indianapolis on Tuesday.
