No bodies, no clues but search at sea continues
After five days, an intensive search covering more than one hundred and fifty square miles of cayes, mangrove swamps, and open sea have not turned up any concrete evidence of what may have happened to seven men missing since Sunday. This evening the families and the Coast Guard Service held a joint press conference to ask the public to become actively involved in the search since time is not on their side.
Audrey Matura Shepherd, Spokesperson for families of missing men
“We know we’re running out of time and we’ve literally combed so many places. We’ve been searching by air, we’ve been searching on land, on cayes, we have B.D.F. soldiers walking around checking places, we’ve been searching underwater, we have divers. And it’s as though these men just suddenly disappeared and we’re saying there must be something that will give way, we must find some clue. If we don’t find them, if we don’t find their bodies there must be something because we haven’t given up hope. However, because we knew that by yesterday bodies would have floated up if they were dead already and they were in that area and we didn’t find after we combed, we are still very optimistic that they are alive.”
Patricia Quiroz, Wife of Mauro Quiroz
“I have to be tough for my kids cause I am the head in the house now. … I have to be there so I’m going to be strong. I’m strong.”
Darcy Nicholson, Wife of Egbert Nicholson
“You know we’ve been searching and searching and searching, but today is a hopeful because you know there are no bodies and I’m feeling much better today than the other days.”
Carmita Reyes, Mother of Elon Reyes
“I know my son. My son he da wah fighter, he da wah survivor. I know he well and I know he noh wah let me down. I know he wah use fi he strength and I know he wah do whatever he could. Wherever he at he will try someway to get out and I hold on on that. I know deep down inna down my heart that he’s still alive, I know.”
Lt. Col. John Borland, Search Mission Coordinator
“The weekend is upon us and we expect to have a huge outpouring of support as more people have become interested, so we will continue our search over the weekend. And what we will do is focus a number of these resources inside the Belize City harbour down to the area of Robinson point and along the coast from Belize City to Sibun Bight, Sittee, Gales Point and down to Colson Point because we’ve watched how the tides and the currents have changed in the area of the Belize City harbour and the drift is pointing in those areas so we are going to concentrate on those areas. We have a specialised dive team with us as well who have been diving English Caye Channel today and around the Robinson Point area. So far they haven’t come up with anything yet.”
“What we want to appeal to though over the weekend when so many people will be involved, while the search will be coordinated we want people to understand that they too should be taking precautions over the weekend, especially people in these little boats. They should have water, they should have first aid kits, and above all things they should have personal floating devices, the life jackets and not to take any unnecessary risks while out there.”
Darcy Nicholson
“Whatever whatever you have just come out and help us because we’re not giving up hope right now.”
Audrey Matura Shepherd
“We want to find them alive, but even if we find that drowned we will live with that, but the thing is we need to find them and the family needs some kind of closure. And I know that in their hearts they are confident that these people are alive, but if they have to face the worst they are also confident that they have put out their all and their best and that is good for them too.”
Missing person bulletins of the men have been sent out to Guatemala, Mexico, El Salvador, and Honduras. If you are interested in joining search parties, please contact the command centre in Ladyville at 205-2653.
