3 weeks ago the home of the Belize Coast Guard Commander Rear Admiral Gregory Soberanis was targeted.
According to Soberanis, he was overseas on an official engagement in New Orleans when his family informed him that their home's windows had been severely damaged by gunfire.
Upon his return to Belize, he contacted police and was informed that the incident was under investigation. The shooting reportedly occurred weeks before a separate incident on May 11th in Burrell Boom Village, where Soberanis said a man verbally threatened him, approached him, took photographs of him and his vehicle, and allegedly displayed a weapon.
Soberanis and his driver both filed official reports at the Hattieville Police Station. The commander stated that his driver witnessed the individual exiting a vehicle with a weapon, approaching their vehicle while they were on their way to work and subsequently made a report to the Hattieville Police Station. Today, we met with him as he said that he takes the actions against him as a "death threat":
Gregory Soberanis, Rear Admiral - BCG
"I must say that it is something that I take very seriously when my home is attacked. When I approach in an aggressive manner, it is not something that I take very serious. It is something that I take very seriously. I believe, and this is something that I believe in, that there is no honor in a man who is willing to defend and fight for his country and not willing to defend and fight for his own home. I am not that man. And so whoever these perpetrators are or perpetrator is, I can assure you that this matter will be dealt with. And from a personal standpoint, it is not something that I intend to have slip and slide."
"Apart from that I keep focused on my portfolio and the delegated responsibility and authority as being the Commandant of the Coast Guard. It is one that I take very seriously as the Commander for the naval forces for the country of Belize and so I will not allow myself to be caught up in the noise of the market because the, our mission and mandate as the coast Guard as I said is one that we take very seriously here. That being said, the mission and the mandate that I have as a father and a husband for the security and the safety of my home is one that I take very seriously as well and so I will ensure that every measure is taken to deal with the perpetrators who committed this heinous act and who I believe sought to by the fact of exiting a vehicle with a weapon in hand I deem that as a serious threat and as I mentioned before, will take every measure to deal with this matter."
Reporter
"Can you confirm whether or not it was over a land dispute based on what the reports are saying?"
Gregory Soberanis, Rear Admiral - BCG
"It definitely, it's a personal matter that as it relates to the individual who approached me it's a personal matter and so it has nothing to do with me being the Commandant of the Coast Guard but I can assure you this matter with be dealt with."
Reporter
"Do you feel fearful of your life in any way?"
Gregory Soberanis, Rear Admiral - BCG
"I am trained and bred for war. I have no fear and I will tell you directly God has not given me a spirit of fear and so sufficed to say and I'll say this and I'm being very serious here because anyone who approaches or attempts to approach me with a weapon in hand. I see that as a death thereat quite frankly But I always remember a story from karate Kid where Mr. Miyagi was talking about a bull that terrorized the community and one day the community enjoyed a good bowl of beef soup and so as I said, this matter I can assure you will be dealt with."
