Honduran national’s catamaran anchors into immigration problems
Luis Fernando Reyes Rodriguez
Luis Fernando Reyes Rodriguez, a fifty-seven year old Honduran National, navigated his catamaran into Belizean waters on September fifteenth. But Luis’ visit has been cut short and he was in court today to face four Immigration offences. The first two counts are for Allowing Crew Members to Disembark a Catamaran without the Consent of an Immigration Officer. Luis allegedly allowed the crew members, Reyes Hernandez and Albat Chacon Escobar to leave his vessel and illegally make their way onto Belizean soil in Punta Gorda. The other two counts are for Unlawful Possession of a Passport because when Reyes was detained, he was found with Honduran passports belonging to Marco Antonio Rivera Quintanera and Melvin Vasquez. Reyes pleaded guilty to all four counts, but claimed he did know that it is illegal to carry the passports without proper authorization because in his country, it is not considered an offense. Reyes explained that the he had gotten the passports from owners when he took them on a tour, but he forgot to return them before heading to Belize. He was fined five hundred dollars for each count, a total of two thousand dollars to be paid forthwith or in default he will spend six months in prison. Up to this evening, Reyes has able to pay and he is now in the custody of immigration officials. The Immigration Department has ordered that he be removed from the country as soon he pays the fine or completes the jail term.
Yeeaaa, way to go, we can run up on these people but we can’t prosecute our own – great job! Our officials selling passports n charging this man for having two passports that wasn’t his. I hope this man isn’t able to prove it was just a simple mistake that he had them cause then he can turn around n sue the pants off Belize for wrong arresting him since its not illegal in his country to have those passports.
This seems mean spirited…….. they could have at least halve the fines……. cut him some slack.
SOME BELIZEAN MAY HAVE A PROBLEM IN HONDURAS ONE DAY…………….we’ll need a favor.
BELIZE CAN BE A ………..GOOD NEIGHBOR…..Lead the way.
As the good old proverb in espanol goes, “Puro ’tilin-tilin’ y nada de paletas.” The brave, breathless words of Reynoso are only sentiment – nothing more.
I don’t see why people make a big deal over this case. First of all he BROKE THE LAW and no one is supposed to be special under the law (although we all know that reality is a far cry from this). Secondly, as to not knowing he was breaking the law by holding someone else’s passport a person shouls ALWAYS make it their duty to be cognizant of the laws of the country they are entering. He would have gotten into the same trouble in the U.S. or worse. Lastly, if a Belizean was caught illegally in another Central American country s/he would be left to rot in a jail with the worst criminals because most Central American couldn’t case less about Belize and her people. To them we are just a source of land for their landless peasants and a route for the drug dealers to pass through. Good job immigration department! Now go after all the other illegals in the country!!
Why didnt he just fly his plane and landed at PGIA? ok, maybe he couldnt pass as a chinese. Damn!