White sandy beaches, emerald waters, and windswept coconut trees – that’s a fair description of tiny Bannister Caye, one of the loveliest and most sought after destinations for visitors to Belize; and because it’s just eight miles from the city, that also makes it one of the most popular sports for cruise visitors. But sometime between last night and this morning, Bannister was the target of ruthless, gun toting thieves. Best information suggests they were looking for money and weren’t about to be stopped by the worker who had it. I hopped across to Bannister today to find out more.
Jean Wade, Mother of Murder Victim
“I was supposed to meet him in Belize City this morning for us to do some business. That is why I came to Belize City. When I got to the bus stop I saw my sister running towards me and I wondered, how you know I am coming to Belize. Then she broke the news.”
The last time Jean Wade spoke with her son forty three year old Kelvin Augustus Wade was around nine on Thursday night. At this time information is very sketchy from what we have been able to gather is that sometime between late Thursday night and early Friday morning, a person or persons arrived at the popular tourist destination known as Banister Caye which is situated approximately nine miles southeast of Belize City. Once the individuals got onshore, we understand they tied up the watchmen who were on the island and then proceeded to the residence of the operations manager Kelvin Wade where they shot and killed him on the spot.
The owner of Bannister Caye denied the media access onshore but when 7News arrived Belize City police were already on the scene reportedly interviewing
the watchmen who were present at the time of the homicide. Also disturbing is the fact that Kelvin Wade was killed inside his residence and the suspicion is only someone who knew where his room was situated and that he would be in bed at that time committed the murder.
Jean Wade,
“It would seem that he was in his bed when they shot him, I guess through the window in his back. One shot in his back; big hole in his back.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Do you believe Kelvin was sleeping at the time he was shot and killed?
Jean Wade,
“I saw him this morning when they brought him in. I said he was sleeping because that is the way he sleeps, with his hand under his face and the hand was still up like that.”
It was a cold bloodied attack that has left the owner and employees of Bannister Caye in shock and with a lot of unanswered questions.
Natalie Muschamp, Employee
“We work with him for our Wet and Wild business and we haven’t had any problem out there. We are shocked. We’re going out there right now to pay our respects so no, he is a nice person.”
Earlier that day these chairs that are now empty were filled with over a hundred cruise ship tourists enjoying a day on the island.
Jacqueline Godwin,
You believe robbery may be involved here?
Natalie Muschamp,
“Well I think maybe, I am not sure, but I don’t think they will really do us any harm when we are going out there during the day because there is a lot of people out there, there are a lot of boats out there. But maybe it is something like that, I am not sure.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
It was crowded yesterday?
Natalie Muschamp,
“Yep we have four big cruise ships in. We took out maybe a hundred and odd people but we are not sure how many Kelvin had out there but he had a lot of people there because he get people directly from the cruise ship.”
David Muschamp, Employee
“From the mere fact they did it in the night, it is not something they are brave enough to do during the day.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Because as you say it is always crowded during the day?
David Muschamp,
“It is always crowded during the day. We just came out, the boss called us, but its early to determine anything for me. You probably have more information than me.”
And while the employees are not sure as to why their operations manager was killed or who did it, Jean and Greta Wade strongly believe that it was someone who knew their son and husband that killed him. The mother and wife also believe that because it was a busy day on the island their loved one was killed for money. In fact according to the family they understand that well over twelve thousand dollars is missing.
Jacqueline Godwin,
Why do you believe your son was killed?
Jean Wade,
“I have a lot of things in mind but I believe that whoever killed him knows that this is the time of the week when he is in possession of a lot of money.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
We understand the caye was very crowded yesterday with a lot of tourists.
Jean Wade,
“I known that on Fridays he leaves to go home and he has always has a lot of money with him. So I believe that whoever killed him knows what goes on Bannister and that it was a setup.”
Greta Wade, Wife of Murder Victim
“It is a set up. It is something that people really know and they were just waiting for the correct time. They had somebody inside that informed them that Kelvin had this amount of money and they had problems with electricity this week. The only way these people know is because somebody inside told them. And the thing is that I get suspicious because the watchman, the security person….”
Jacqueline Godwin,
I understand it was four of them.
Greta Wade,
“Yes and nothing happened to them and they just called me until 7 o’clock this morning and this happened 12 o’clock last night and I understand that they informed somebody else before me.”
At the scene police would not speak with the media but sources close to the investigation tell us that they do believe the watchmen may know more than what they have been telling authorities. Valerio Novelo who resides on a fishing camp just across from Bannister Caye is also troubled by the way Kelvin Wade was murdered because he is usually alerted by the sound of his dogs barking but this time he did not hear anything suspicious not even the sound of a boat in the area.
Jacqueline Godwin,
Do you remember them barking last night?
Valerio Novelo, Resident of Nearby Fishing Camp
“They bark every night Jackie, every night and I peep out and I see boats passing right but it is night.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
But sometimes you can tell the difference in a dog’s bark when something is wrong and when something is not wrong.
Valerio Novelo,
“When the boat is a little closer to the pier then they bark different barking.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
But last night you didn’t suspect anything when you heard your dogs barking?
Valerio Novelo,
“I didn’t suspect nothing, nothing at all. But he has lots of workers there working. Lots of workers work over there as far as I know because that’s what people tell me.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
So you find it strange he was the only one that was killed?
Valerio Novelo,
“Yes very strange indeed and on the island he has workers there.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
And there were some of the present at the time of this incident.
Valerio Novelo,
“All of that.”
Jean Wade,
“And whoever it was, he was a coward. Only a coward shoots another person in the back.”
But as police look for those responsible the family of Kelvin Wade can only hope that justice prevails. Jean Wade says she only has one message for those who are involved in her son’s murder.
Jean Wade,
“Whenever people shoot other people they need to remember that all human beings are first God’s children and whoever did it, maybe they will find out, maybe they will not, but nothing good is going to happen to that person.”
When 7News contacted the police late this evening they confirmed that based on their preliminary investigation conducted on Bannister Caye they too strongly believe robbery to be the motive and that only someone from inside would have known just how much cash Kelvin Wade would have had on him. The police however would not confirm the amount of money given to us by the family only telling us that their investigation is still ongoing.
