Former Belmopan Mayor Tony Chanona Victim of Armed Attack

Anthony Chanona

Former Belmopan Mayor and businessman Anthony Chanona was held at gunpoint on Monday night near Our Lady of Guadalupe Church on the Ring Road.  He had just exited the church and was walking towards his pickup truck when two Hispanic men pounced on him.  One of them was armed and pointed the weapon on Chanona, before demanding that he handover his personal belongings.  In a moment of flight or fight, Chanona grabbed the firearm and a struggle ensued between him and his attacker.  During the scuffle, Chanona fell to the ground and cried out for help.  The men then made good their escape on foot.  Late this evening, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams and Belmopan Mayor Khalid Belisle concluded a meeting with Chanona.  Here’s an interview given to our colleagues at Plus TV moments ago.

Anthony Chanona, Victim of Armed Attack

“As with all instances of crime and violence it‘s traumatic to my family but what has happened pales in importance when I‘ve heard a lot of families share the stories of what has happened to them and some of those ended very tragically.  And so I thank God I was spared, but this is something that‘s happening across our country and it is something that we don‘t like, that we want to see stopped, but the commissioner will clearly share that this is not going to be a one-off response.  It has to be sustained and it‘s going to be participatory by all sectors: the business community, the police department and most importantly the community.”

Reporter

“Sir, now some would describe your response in the midst of the situation as an act of foolery or, depending on who is looking at it, as an act of bravery.  Where did you get that courage from in the moment to respond the way you did?”

Anthony Chanona

“It was just instinctively foolishness.  It‘s not something I would recommend anybody to do.”