Anselmo Pop is no longer among his fellow guardsmen at the Belize coast guard. That's after seaman died by suicide last week.
And, because of the circumstances of his death, the armed force to which he belonged didn't bury him with full honors, meaning he got not gun salute, his coffin was not carried by guardsmen, and his family did not get a flag.
Commandant of the BDF, Captain Elton Bennett told us that's because death by suicide is considered an act of cowardice within the ranks of the Belize Coast Guard.
And while police have buried some of their own who died in this manner the Coast Guard will not.
Bennett told us, quote: "The Belize Coast Guard is very different from the other two services. We have different standards, different principles, and we obviously share a different opinion as it relates to suicide and honors. I don't subscribe to the belief that all suicide is mental sickness. Oftentimes weakness or even alcohol is the cause. The only source that I can rely on is the Bible which describes it as a sin and a selfish act." End quote.
