Yohhny Rosado, cave tubing tour guide, got a personal prison tour

Yohhny Rosado, the owner of Cavetubing.com and tourism activist, spent Thursday in prison after being charged in the Belmopan Magistrate’s Court for Aggravated Assault with a Firearm upon Vitalino Reyes Junior. The alleged incident occurred about three months ago when Reyes claims Rosado went to his property in Frank’s Eddy Village, pointed a gun at Reyes and threatened him. The twist is that Reyes is the owner of Cavetubing.bz, a rival to the similarly named, Cavetubing.com. And According to Rosado’s Attorney, Kareem Musa, Reyes has taken the competition between two businesses too far. He successfully applied for bail at the Supreme Court and Rosado was released from the Central Prison this afternoon. They both spoke to News Five as did COLA President, Giovanni Brackett, a long time friend and supporter of Rosado.

Yohhny Rosado, Tour Operator, Cavetubing.com

Yohhny Rosado

“The rumors were about three months ago and somebody went to make some report against ne about some firearm. At that same time, I contacted Kareem but I didn’t know it was going to happen because it didn’t happen; nothing like that happen. So I was in shock that three months after, the police were still investigating and went to search my house and went looking for me in Belmopan. It was very; very confusing and touching at the same time knowing that you didn’t do anything wrong and you’re being searched and accused of such a thing.”

Kareem Musa

Kareem Musa, Attorney

“Our position, Delahnie, is that obviously the version that Mr. Reyes has given to the police is a fabrication. We intend to file a civil suit against Mr. Reyes for defamation of character and for malicious prosecution. Obviously this is a business situation whereby they are competing businesses in the same area. Obviously, at times things may get a little tense but not to the extent that you would levy charges against somebody for firearm. That is ridiculous, that is atrocious. I mean, the law itself is atrocious that you can just make up an allegation against someone, have them arrested and then sent to Hattieville Prison without any evidence. So that I believe will be our next step.”

Delahnie Bain

“So you’ll be suing for damages.”

Kareem Musa

“Yes, damages.”

Giovanni Brackett

Giovanni Brackett, President, COLA

“And Delahnie, COLA stands in solidarity with our other organizations, FECTAB, BGYEA and we would want to put out a petition to get this law repealed because whereby one person can just maliciously put out an allegation and have someone arrested—I mean, Yohhny is a well known activist and this should never have happened. I noh just know Yohhny jut di other day, Yohhny and I have been friends from I was a young kid and he has never been any person to aggravate any person.”

Yohhny Rosado

“And I’ve always told my kids daddy don’t smoke, daddy have a tattoo on his body and daddy has never been to prison. That will never be the case anymore. I’ve been to prison wrongfully and for the record, it’s there.  I have nothing against the organization; against the police or against the Kolbe Foundation, but it’s just the malicious person that can—they knew that I had a firearm license for the past five years. I had two firearms. Now I have to move from the city because I won’t be able to live in the city without that protection.”

Rosado was released on bail of eight thousand dollars and is to reappear in court on March fourteenth, 2013.