Great Escape will cost thirty thousand dollars to remove from reef
On Thursday night we reported that a yacht named the Great Escape is still sitting on the reef in the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve; two months after it ran into the reef. The owner, Albert Barcroft, was released within days of the incident when he complained of a heart condition. The vessel continues to damage the reef, but the extent remains undetermined because the vessel has to be removed for an assessment to take place. According to Chief Environmental Officer for the Department of Environment, the estimated cost of moving the vessel is thirty thousand dollars. But the attempts have failed and the D.O.E. is taking the lead in the investigation.
Martin Alegria, Chief Environmental Officer, Dept. of Environment
“In the ideal an incident like this what would happen is right away we, the team, Coast Guard, Port, Fisheries, ourselves and others are there and the owner, the insurance or whoever from the vessel then hires somebody—either local or regional—to take out the ship. We immediately upon that do the damage assessment. Within a few days thereafter, we do the evaluation in theory. So with the vessel not being able to be pulled out by the owners and the insurance and his contacts, then we have to now intervene because it’s becoming now a grave concern for us. With the wave action and so on, it becomes more unstable and more risky for other issues to happen, other damages. The owner had contacted his insurance and di hire some local Belizean who apparently was unable to take out the vessel due to equipment. Last week my officers along with Port decided to take the matter because it’s an environmental concern for us and Belize in general. So we and Port contacted or are working on contacting local people who have the equipment, knowledge and expertise to do the removal, especially of the fuel and the oil that is onboard on the engines and so on but also the this entire vessel. We have had preliminary from at least one of the local experts that it will take us at least thirty thousand dollars to do it. So we are going and getting as much quotations as we can. Simultaneously, what we are doing is trying to touch base with the captain who is the owner to explain to him the situation because apparently, he had a bad experience with the previous contact in Belize. So we are offering him or we will be contacting him to let him know that now the Department of Environment and Port Authority will be supervising no.”
I am wondering why the Department of Environment is seeking for people of expertise in environmental issues. Hmmm!! Belize is a proudly independent country; wealthy enough to care for its economic issues. Its not brain surgery, how many times a boat needs to run up the Reef inorder to find a way for its removal. How will Belize respond to an oil spill, a faulthy dam, or a family in need of a fit home? Please, don’t say there are strategic plans for such events.
its a shamed to see how stupid the department of environment is. come on it takes 2 months of the reef to be destroyed for u to talk about it. please, i myself will have a heart problem if am accused of something like this, will u let me go too?
I am getting a heart condition just looking at that fullisness so belize autorities do something and fast to. It’s really a shame that the baot is till thear,
Aye! you people, its easier said than done, its not brain surgey but even so you still have no idea, research before you comment please. Who is seeking expertise in Environmental issues? they are seeking how much it will cost to remove the vessel. Do you have that expertise? if you do please contact the Dept of Enviro and offer your assistance to them, they need the extra hand.
Lets not point fingers and call anyone stupid, it is said that a stupid person can solve problems with the words of his mouth but it takes time for the wise to stategically plan for good results.
there are plans for three thats why they are giving out homes to people who need it, the former Govt did it and the present Govt is doing it. There is a plann for a dam break and oil spills…I think you should listen to belizean and researchbefore you comment.
The Govt needs to make an example of these foreigners and be less lenient to them, not because there country aids or assists us means we must be totally ignorant to their damages and grant them total immunity to the law.
Why in the world was this guy let go.Let him get a heart attack for all i care. It is our reef we are talking about. The Belizean government should do more than releasing this person from jail. If a ordinary belizean would complain about heart pain they would let the police take them to the hospital and when they are released they are sent back to jail. Why was this person not treated that way? Is it because he is an American? Are they the ruler of the world?
The guy had an actual heart attack people, in boat on the way to Belize city. Having an American die because of Governments official ignorance, has serious consequences, Internationally and locally. Its reality! Our Government always allows these clowns to get off freely, In Belize it seems that Government (any Govt) are a hindrance to the poor and facilitators for the rich.