2 U.S. Nationals Rescued by Coast Guard Officers

According to Lieutenant Soberanis, the couple was making their way from Cuba to Rio Dulce in Guatemala. Soberanis says that the captain of the vessel is currently detained at Hunting Caye until an in-depth assessment of the extent of the damage to the reef is concluded.

Gregory Soberanis

Lt. Gregory Soberanis, Belize National Coast Guard

“D.O.E. along with the partner agencies, we go out there and conduct an underwater assessment and then determine what level of damage has been done and what consequent or subsequent action needs to be taken at that point. It was a male and female. Their last port of call was at Cuba. They were heading to Rio Dulce, Guatemala. Both are currently detained at our Forward Operating Base at Hunting Caye waiting the outcome of the investigations and assessments that are being conducted by D.O.E. Normally they will look at the level of damage done to the reef. They have a formula that they use to calculate monetary charges that are levied against individuals who damage our reef. Really and truly a determination cannot be made until that assessment is done and than that calculation is made to put a figure on the damage that is done to the reef.”