The Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA) says the law will deal with Placencia tour operator Vance Cabral. Cabral took 10 tourists out on a dive trip which ended in tragedy two Saturdays ago. On Friday the Tour Operators Licensing Committee voted to revoke the dive license for Cabral's Advance Dive Shop and recommended that tour guide licenses for both Cabral and his assistant Mark Tucker be revoked for life. Well today BTIA joined the chorus of condemnation and President Lucy Fleming told us she wouldn't be surprised if Cabral never leads another dive tour in his life. She also commented on how the tragedy could affect Belize's image.
Lucy Fleming, BTIA President
"We really have to tell the story as we know it and we also need to talk about the BDF and the marvelous job that they did. We need to talk about all those Belizean people who got into boats that night, that same night in the dark and went out looking for those divers. So we need to bring out all the positive things that have happened. Obviously this was a terrible event, it was indeed a misadventure."
Keith Swift,
What in your view should happen to Vance Cabral?
Lucy Fleming,
"In my view, I am not a part of the legislature or the judiciary, I have my own strong feelings about this. I can tell you with 100% confidence that they will be dealt with properly and correctly by both government officials and the private sector. I can say that with confidence so I'll be very very surprised to see them operating in Belizean waters anytime in the near future or indeed perhaps every again."
The BTB has indicated that both Cabral and Tucker could be made to face criminal charges for operating as tour guides without valid permits and Cabral could additionally be charged for hiring Tucker as a tour guide when he did not have a valid permit.
