Fishermen busted with meat from endangered hawksbill turtle

Victor Foremand Jr.

A group of six Belize City fishermen appeared before Magistrate Albert Hoare today for a fisheries offence.  On Tuesday evening twenty-three year old Victor Foreman Jr., Garrett Francis, Deshawn Terry, Kent Garbutt, Gregory Rhaburn and James Andrewin were busted by police on mobile patrol in the Conch Shell Bay area where they were found in possession of meat from the endangered Hawksbill Turtle.

Deshawn Terry

Police were alerted to a vessel the men were seated in when they observed Foreman tossing a firearm into the nearby canal.  Upon entering the boat police discovered the turtle meat and subsequently called in officials from the Belize Fisheries Department who then confirmed that the meat was being kept illegally.  The firearm was later fished out of the water and Foreman was additionally charged with possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Kent Garbutt

For the charge of possessing illegal turtle meat Terry was fined a thousand dollars, to be paid by September fourth.  A similar charge against the other five men was withdrawn.  Foreman, who was represented by attorney Dickie Bradley, was remanded to the Belize Central Prison for the firearm offences.  He is scheduled to reappear in court on September seventh.