And true to his word, serious work to take down the wall started this afternoon. When our crew visited at 5:00 pm, it was already being dismantled. Chief of security for Fort Street, Michael John Mulligan told us what’s the plan –while Christian Riverol from Brown Sugar told us that it’s still not satisfactory.
Michael John Mulligan, Chief of Security – FSTV
“We’re now complying with the judge’s ruling. The stay of execution was not approved so we’re going through with the motions now of breaking down the walls as was directed by the judge.”
Keith Swift,
When do you expect this to be concluded?
Michael John Mulligan,
“It should be completed by morning.”
Keith Swift,
You have a ship tomorrow?
Michael John Mulligan,
“We have a ship in the morning so it should be cleared by morning and then we will just clean up the area for the time being so nobody gets hit with the debris that’s lying around.”
Keith Swift,
How will the walls being taken down?
Michael John Mulligan,
“We’ve got a jackhammer to take the walks down and then we have a crew to remove the debris after the walls been taken down.”
Keith Swift,
Mr. Mulligan just told us that he is tearing down the walls and by morning they will be gone.
Christian Riverol, Manager – Brown Sugar Marketplace
“Well that is what the court order says, that they have to tear down the obstructions and the walls but my indication or the information I am getting is that they are going to attempt to actually broke the boardwalk as well and that would be absolute contempt of court if they even try that. So we are at this point getting the relevant authorities out here to give them a cease and desist order which means they cannot break the boardwalk.
We are getting that right now, we are working on that because absolutely they are trying to play games. This is the third loss they’ve had in court, they can’t be doing this. The walls and the buildings are to come down. Nothing about the boardwalk was to be touched, that was very clear. That they are actually going to try and break the boardwalk, that is the information I am getting at this point.”
So boardwalk issues aside for the time being, now that the wall is down, what happens next? Well some say the FSTV will lose ISPS certification, meaning an uncertain future in the cruise sector. Others dispute that, and say that the change will be of little consequence for Belize as a cruise destination. They add though that it is of great consequence to the volume of sales at the Tourism Village – because that captive market of cruise visitors will now have to be shared with two competing enterprises. In the days ahead, we’re sure to find out whose wrong and whose right.
