For many years, residents of rural Orange Walk have known about the bombs that can be found all across what was once known as the New River Training Grounds. That left the area littered with all types of unexploded ordnance that many would keep as mementos or hang as ornaments. They were mostly harmless - that is until Saturday - when a 25 year old welder tried to affix a pair of hanging hooks to them for his boss, former PUP politician Dave Burgos. The bomb exploded - killing him instantly - and leaving his community shocked and shaken quite literally from the massive blast.
The family of the deceased Jose Valencia spoke with our colleagues from CTV3 today about the trauma they are experiencing from losing their loved one in such a terrible fashion. Jomarie Lanza has this story.
Residents of San Jose Palmar gathered with concern outside one time area rep Dave Burgos's home on Saturday afternoon after the massive explosion of a bomb shook the ground and rattled roofs all across the village.
25 year old Jose Valencia, a welder by trade, was hired to attach hooks to an Mk1 general purpose medium capacity aircraft bomb - left behind decades ago as a relic in a former military training ground on the New River.
The hooks were to use what was thought to be an inert bomb for ornamental purposes. But, as he was welding, the bomb detonated, killing Valencia instantly and shattering windows in the home.
Valencia's little sister says that they had just arrived home when it happened, and no one could have thought that it was a bomb:
Voice of: Sarai Valencia, Little Sister of Deceased
"We thought it was a gas tank or something and only I and my little brother were home and I told him I just hope no one got hurt not knowing it was my brother."
"It was here everything trembled the house, the zinc everything, everything it felt terrible it was just a bad feeling, a terrible feeling."
Valencia says they rushed over to the house where her brother was working but nobody would tell them anything about what had happened and where her brother was. That's where police picked it up:
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
"On Saturday 4th October 2025, at approximately 4:00 pm, police visited San Jose Nuevo Palmar. Upon information being forwarded of an explosion occurring in that area. Upon police's arrival, they were able to confirm that an explosion did in fact occur, and this explosion led to the death of Jose Valencia a 25 year old of Palmar Village, Valencia, who is a welder by trade, was said to have been hired by one Jose Burgos, who is the owner of that residence. He was hired to have placed some hooks up on a device, in the course of him doing this, welding the bomb, which has been described by the owner to be a blind bomb detonated, resulting in the passing of Mr Valencia and the damages to some surrounding property."
"At present The police department in connection with the Belize Defense Force, who are the primary experts as it relates to identifying and categorizing what exactly the device is, are in dialog. And we're reviewing the dangerous goods Act to determine what, if any, charges can be brought in light of what the expert opinion as to what exactly that material is. Further to that, a file is being compiled in relation to the death of Mr. Valencia, and that will be forwarded to the office of the DPP for the directives therefrom."
According to residents finding these bombs in rural Orange Walk is not uncommon. Still police urge persons to not tamper with these devices and if they are found to hand them over to the BDF
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
"It would be in line with what the Belize Defense Force has similarly issued in that if the ever discovered, the first thing to do is not to interfere with it or tamper with it or trying to ascertain anything, but instead to call the police department, or if were able to call the media by no, they would have provided an email. But I do believe 911 will be able to get you guys in contact and transfer the information so that incidents such as this do not repeat themselves. I've been advised that it's a common thing. It is not something novel in that area for devices of such to be found, and hopefully this serves as a, learning lesson to those persons who may be in the habit during the hobby of retaining those items."
Valencia leaves behind a family along with a 2 year old daughter. His relatives describe him as a hard working father who just wanted to provide for his family and child.
Sarai Valencia, Little Sister of Deceased
"He was a role model he was more of a father to me than a brother he was always someone who would tell you to behave good be good and do something good and don't be bad to people he used to always say, anyone who knows him would know he has always been hard working you tell him if you have a little job it doesn't matter if It is chopping or if it's welding or fixing and picking up garbage he would do it he never said no to anybody."
Jonan Gutierrez, Uncle of Deceased
"Jose, from a very young age he was a very responsible person. He took on the responsibility of a father, he provided for his mother, for his siblings. He has 2 sisters and a younger brother. Two years ago he had the blessing to be a father himself, so he was very excited, he did mentioned to us many times that he couldn't wait for his daughter to be 5-6 years old. He was very excited to see his daughter a bigger girl, but unfortunately that will not be possible."
We did speak to the owner of the property Dave Burgos - who said he was too traumatized to talk at this time. His wife was also only a short distance away when the blast occurred. Valencia was his employee.
