…And encourages boat operators to get masters license

While policy is on the drawing board, the Port Authority has taken a decision on numerous boat operators heading out to sea without proper licenses. And while they’re not that easy to catch in waters, the Port Authority is giving them a chance to straighten things up. From August first to October thirty-first, it is having an amnesty period to allow operators to get a boat masters license with relative ease. Retired Major John Flowers, the Deputy Ports Commissioner, told us how the idea came about and who qualifies.

Major John Flowers, Deputy Ports Commissioner, Belize Port Authority
“Pretty much the Board of Directors had agreed that they will have an amnesty period of about ninety days to facilitate the boat operators out there who don’t have a license to drive these boats and who have not had the necessary requirements to complete the written exams. And so, we felt that before having these individuals operating crafts out there without a boat masters license, the amnesty period does offer some bit relief for them.”

Delahnie Bain
“What exactly—what kind of relief?”

Major John Flowers
“Well relief in the sense that they will not be required to sit a written examination, or a practical examination, providing that they came to the Port with a written affidavit signed by a J.P. or a notary public saying that they have been driving boat the last ten year, plus they are competent enough, they are Belizean born or naturalized and they are over thirty years old.”

Delahnie Bain
“The affidavit, that’s the only requirement?”

Major John Flowers
“At this time be, yes.”

According to Flowers, this is the first time the Port is offering an amnesty period.