Body of Coast Guard Sailor Arrives at K.H.M.H; Family Distraught
Kiman Garcia
On Wednesday, we brought you the terrible news of the loss of a Coast Guard seaman who was returning to base after completing three weeks of operational duties offshore Ambergris Caye. The sailor, Kiman Garcia was one of two Coast Guard members who fell into the sea when the boat captain lost control of the vessel after it hit an object in the water. While the other sailor was lucky to have escaped unscathed, Garcia lost his life. He was supposed to be in his home village of Double Head Cabbage today. Instead, they are planning his burial. News Five’s Marion has the story.
Marion Ali, Reporting
The flags, symbolically being flown at half mast at the Belize Coast Guard Headquarters, indicates the loss of one of its own, as arrangements are being made to lay twenty-four-year-old Kiman Garcia to rest. This morning, the body of the seaman arrived via ambulance at the K.H.M.H morgue, while one of his fellow sailors salutes his fallen comrade. On hand to receive the body was the bereaved family, an understandably grief-stricken mother, Judith Flores, wails as she walks away from seeing her son’s body. He came from a family of law enforcers from the Belize River Valley, where they reside. Flores told News Five that she found out about her son’s death while on the bus heading home from work. The Coast Guard had apparently been trying to reach her by phone, but she had her device away from her.
Judith Flores
Judith Flores, Mother of Coast Guard seaman
“The bus was so packed, so I left my bag on the front of the bus because it’s so packed, you can’t get nothing. So, I heard the people talking and thing, and they like, “shh, shh.” So, my co-worker was sitting near to me, and she said it looks like, your family, something is wrong with your family. So I tell her, get me bag for me. So I get the bag. As soon as I get the bag, I saw the Coast Guard text. While reading the text, my sister called me and gave me the message that my son died in a boat accident.”
A few hours later, Coast Guard Commandant, Rear Admiral Elton Bennett arrived at Garcia’s home to deliver the bad news in person. Flores says her son wanted to be like the rest of his relatives in the armed forces and he made that decision at the age of eighteen. His mom says it’s what the job meant to them that had that influence on him from very young.
Judith Flores
“When he was young, them boys already joined the force. So he really want deh with his family, so he just said, well, that’s my dream, so I’m just going for it.”
Isani Cayetano
“And you supported him all the way?”
Kiman Garcia
Judith Flores
“All the way because he was my, like the man of the house.”
Garcia was such a dedicated seaman, that hi mom barely got to spend holidays with him, at least at Christmastime.
Judith Flores
“He was all for his job. He never say mek ah nuh goh da work today. He always go; he never miss work. Even Christmas, New Year’s, he spend da sea. This was going to be the first Christmas that he mi wa spend with me.”
Flores says that she was expecting her son to spend her birthday with her next Friday. Instead, she will be laying him to rest the following day. Flores’s dad, Gilbert Flowers, told News Five that his grandson last visited him in their home village three weeks ago and they had a fun time at a relative’s birthday party.
Gilbert Flowers
Gilbert Flowers, Grandfather, Kiman Garcia
“Deh mi have a birth night, and, I tell you, he have all of us laughing that night with the girlfriend, having a good time and things like that.”
Marion Ali
“This was three weeks ago?”
Gilbert Flowers
“Yeah. Right now it’s hard for me because he was to come home today. He was to come home today. (Sniffles.)”
As the family prepares to lay him to rest, today the boat in which the young seaman spent his last hours was brought in as the Police, Coast Guard and Port Authority begin to investigate how the incident happened. Marion Ali for News Five.
