Well-known Fisherman Killed in Dangriga

Henry Garbutt

On Monday night around seven o’clock, gunshots rang out in the New Site area of Dangriga. A man had been shot dead, but his body was not discovered until twelve hours later, around seven a.m. today at the entrance to the lower flat of a two-story building where he had been house-sitting. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.

Duane Moody, Reporting

Forty-four-year-old Henry Garbutt was on the veranda of the lower flat of this building at the corner of Gadsby Ramos and Dashine streets in the New Site area of Dangriga. Police say he was socializing with a pair of friends when a gunman emerged from behind the house and opened fire on him. But information to News Five suggests that Garbutt was at the doorway when the shooter took aim at him. Snow, as he was affectionately known, was reportedly hit three times and collapsed at the door. His body was discovered this morning by someone with whom he worked.

Delia Cardona

Delia Cardona, Sister of Deceased

“He has somebody that works with him and went there to visit him so that they could go to work together and he find ahn and I guess dah he called the police and reported the murder. I get the phone call from a brother that lives in Belize City. So you know the news spread fast. After that, I got another phone call from my sister-in-law and she came and picked me up and I went there and he was there – lying in his blood. So that dah all I could say fuh that cause the police noh share anything yet.”

But who wanted Garbutt dead and why?

Delia Cardona

“He’s a kind person first of all; he’s well known. He’s well known in a notorious way and a kind loving person. The shooting and the murder and thing, we never really expect. Yes he is somebody; he has his ways so out deh we can’t really say what happened or who he offend for it to happen, yo understand, but like yo say, it just sad that it happened like that. Unexpected and especially like yo said, with this weather yah, just two things to deal with. Just trying to be strong cause my mom and other siblings yo know.”

For some time now, there has been an increase in violence in the New Site area. We’ve reported on a number of murders and arson in that community. Dangriga Mayor Robert Mariano says that it is an issue that has been brought to the attention of the police.

Robert Mariano

Robert Mariano, Mayor, Dangriga

“It’s very disappointing to me as mayor and I continue to condemn these kinds of violence in the community. Just last week I had a meeting with a concerned citizen of New Site that lives not too far away and she brought some information to me. And for your information, just a week and a half ago, I had a meeting with the new officer commanding and one of the things we discussed is about how we can post police officers in the New Site area because it is a concern that people are seeing certain activities happening in the area and so we brought that up to his attention. He had mentioned that he would have discussed the matter with the Commissioner of Police. But because of this incident again, I think it is important that just after this weather, I will be having a meeting with the police minister and also the commissioner of police to see how I can assist.”

Duane Moody for News Five.