Port Authority to Monitor Water Taxi and Boater Safety

Major Gilbert Swaso, the Commissioner at the Belize Port Authority, is assuring the public there will be monitoring and enforcement of safety regulations for water taxis. According to Swaso, marine enforcement officers will be on alert at the terminals in Belize City and at sea.

Major Gilbert Swaso

Major Gilbert Swaso, Commissioner, Belize Port Authority

“We do have marine enforcement officer at the two terminals in Belize City. Part of their responsibility is to ensure the vessels depart on schedule, also to ensure that these vessels are not over the approved capacity. So they have to operate within the capacity because the sea worthiness certificate has the number of passengers that they are approved to carry. So that is of the function, to ensure that there is no overcrowding at all. Furthermore, we do have patrols out and we also have joint patrols with Coast Guards and other maritime law enforcement agencies. So, we are on the ground, in the water, we are here to ensure the safety of everyone using the waterways.”