Colombian sailing ship visits Belize

A ship full of men arrived in Belize City last night but before anyone gets excited, this one was not like the last… It uses sails instead of an engine.

Six days after it pulled up anchor in San Andres, Colombia, that country’s classic sailing vessel, the “A.R.C Gloria” arrived in Belize late Tuesday night. The ship and its crew of one hundred and fifty men are on a three and half month Goodwill Tour that will take them from Belize to Mexico, the United States, Cuba, Barbados, Brazil and Trinidad before finally returning to port in Cartagena, Colombia.

Jacqueline Woods

“The vessel. which is over thirty years old is the property of the Colombian Navy and is primarily used to train sailors in basic nautical skills.”

The cadets are taught how to operate sophisticated equipment like radar as well as master more traditional navy skills.

The ship, which is over two hundred feet long and cruises at a speed of fourteen knots, is one of the most popular sailing vessels in South America. Although this three mast ship was converted in 1966 into a training vessel for the Colombian Navy, it has maintained its recreational appeal. The ship’s dining room area has not only become a popular stop for the men because of its cozy and inviting bar, but the room as well is the resting place for one of the vessels most treasured possessions. Surrounding the wall are a number of display cases that holds a variety of Indian gold artifacts. But it’s not only Colombian cadets that are aboard as that country’s navy has also invited other navy officials from elsewhere in the Caribbean and South America.

David Ching Fong, Guest, A.R.C. Gloria

“I am the fourth in this series of Jamaicans coming to the Colombian ship. It just so happens that the Jamaican Government received an invitation from Colombia, through the Colombian Navy from the Colombian Government for somebody from Jamaica to come and participate in this cruise and as you know as the captain explain the cruise goes all around the world and it is a floating training vessel for cadets, and I think that the involvement is not only Jamaican, it?s Caribbean countries and Latin American countries and South American countries. So there is no particular reason as to why Jamaica was elected. It?s just somebody from the Caribbean region.”

While in Belize the ship?s crew will be involved in a number of sporting matches with the Belize Defense Force and its Maritime Wing. They will also be taken on a tour to the various Maya ruins.

But as explained by the Colombian Ambassador to Belize, His excellency Kent Francis James, the friendly visit is also to improve the tainted image of his country.

Kent Francis James, Colombian Ambassador to Belize

“One of our duty here is that Colombia becomes more and more accepted to the people and to the wide world and overcome things that sometimes happen that put down the image of our country. When these kind of visits happen then we see differents sites of Colombians and Colombia. That we have much to show and much to offer, and that?s what we want to do.”

James says they will also be holding discussions with the Belize military to see how that relationship can be strengthened.

Kent Francis James

“Let?s look at another serious issue that we hope will come up in discussions and that?s how each country can assist each other in combating drug tracking. As you know, Belize has become a very popular transshipment point from drugs being ferried from Colombia to the United States.”

“Well there has already had an approach in London with our Vice President and the Belize Prime Minister a couple months ago and from there, a member of the police have been visiting Colombia on those matters and we expect to develop much more the capacity of Belizean and Colombian security forces along with Colombians counterparts to counter these drug trafficking that harm both countries and the images of both countries.”

Because of this visit, James says they have already requested the Colombian Navy to send a formal invitation to the B.D.F. so that on the “Gloria’s” next tour, a Belizean may well be at her helm.

The “Gloria” leaves on Friday evening.