Port Authority fails to prosecute boat owner

A boat owner accused of not displaying proper registration and other maritime breaches had the charges against him dismissed when the representative from the Port Authority failed to present his own credentials in court. Belize City businessman Arnaldo Pena appeared in court on Thursday where his attorney Ellis Arnold submitted to Magistrate Margaret McKenzie that the information and complaint was not properly laid out according to the summary jurisdiction procedure act. In addition, the prosecutor could not present the necessary authorisation from the Ports Commissioner. Magistrate McKenzie then dismissed the case. Pena had been charged with operating a vessel without a valid boat master certificate, identification marks or sea going certificate while at the Tourism Village on July tenth.