The news spread like wildfire, and the initial shock of word that the private plane of Mr. Barry Bowen had gone down in the marshes of Ambergris Caye was enough to cause everything to come to a standstill on the island, with everybody waiting to hear the outcome of the accident.

On Friday evening, February 26, 2010, after taking off from Belize City, businessman Sir Barry Bowen and his passengers were heading to San Pedro to take part in a fundraiser for his private Island Academy School. Bowen was accompanied by the principal of Gallon Jug School and his family. Michael and Jillian Casey (both 32) and their two children, three-year-old Makayla and seven month old Bryce, were also killed along with Bowen in the DFC area of San Pablo along the path to the airport.

After confirmation came that it was Sir Barry Bowen who had perished in the plane crash, hundreds, if not thousands, flocked to the site of the accident to witness the devastation first hand. Barry is known throughout Belize and very much loved and looked up to in San Pedro which he called home.

Ambergris Today was one of the first at the scene where one eyewitness explained what she saw: “I looked out the window of my house and saw the plane flying really low, unusually low above this area as the airstrip is further north.”

According to the eye witness, it did not seem as if the plane was experiencing any mechanical problems as she did not see or hear anything unusual from the plane. It eventually hit a building which was under construction in which at that point lost its wings and crashed nearby – close to Captain Shark’s Boat Yard.

And it was the workers at the boat yard who rushed to the downed aircraft to render assistance to those on board. To their dismay, there was nothing much that they could do as scene of the accident was of total morbidness. The rescue attempts immediately turned to a salvage operation as police and volunteers arrived to the scene to recover the bodies.

Passengers, Jill and Michael Casey are from Albany New York. They got married in Gallon Jug four years ago and were both teachers at the Gallon Jug Community School. Michael was the principal of the school, and Jillian Casey taught third and fourth grades. Their bodies were flown to the Unites States for burial. The school in Gallon Jug will be renamed in their honor.

Gallon Jug was one of Bowen’s ventures in a vast business Empire which include the soft drink company Bowen and Bowen (which sells Coca Cola, Sprits, Fanta), Belikin Beer, Lighthouse Beer, Guinness Stout, Crystal bottled water and juices, Gallon Jug Coffee and a shrimp farm. Sir Barry’s importance and prominence as a businessman, developer, bottling magnate and Belizean is significant to the country of Belize. He was one of Belize’s wealthiest men, second only to billionaire Michael Ashcroft.

Then there’s the Belize Estate and Produce Company, Belize Aquaculture Limited, which also sells energy to BEL, and Gallon Jug Agro Industry which produces cattle, lumber, coffee, jams, jellies and the eco – friendly resort, Chan Chich – where Bowen also built a village and a school for his employees and their children. Bowen also managed a 130,000 acre tract of land in the Gallon Jug area which is a prime conservation zone and where hunting is not permitted. That area alone is bigger than Barbados.

Barry Bowen was 64 years old and had been a pilot for 40 years. The coastguard took in the five bodies to the morgue close to nine on Friday night. And early Saturday morning, members of the department of Civil Aviation were investigating the scene.

In addition to the Department of Civil Aviation, the International Inspectors from Cessna Corporation, the manufacturers of the aircraft and Rolls Royce, the manufacturers of the engine are also assisting with the investigation though it is not known that mechanical failures led to his death.

Sir Barry’s Memorial & Funeral
Celebrating Barry’s Life

His official name is Sir Barry Bowen since he was anointed a Knight of the British Empire by the Queen of England in 1997. But to everyone present on Monday, March 01, 2010, at Sir Barry’s Memorial Celebration of Life at the Island Academy, he was simply Barry.

All the orators, including his six children, concurred that Barry was a simple and down to earth fellow, a humble friend, caring individual, prudent entrepreneur, a candid guy, and a dad who always had it his way because he knew better.

The list of orators included Raymond Bowers, who was also the Master of Ceremonies, Hon. Manuel Heredia, Area Rep and Minister of Tourism, Dennis Woodriff, Wolfram Koehler, Johnny Grief, Henry Beissner, Shelly Stonesifer, Michael Bowen, Zander Bowen, Dustin Bowen, and Ms. Courtney Bowen.

“We are not here to morn his death, but to celebrate is life,” stated his son Michael Bowen.

In celebrating the life of Barry, we were reminded (some learned) that Barry was a prudent entrepreneur who paid attention to subtle details and orderliness. He was willing to share his secrets of success as well as share the wealth of his success and gave a lot to individuals, San Pedro and the entire country of Belize.

We learned that Barry loved to travel and was especially fond of New Orleans, Mardi Grass and a fan of the tradition of “the beads”. Yes he loved women, the form of women, but all speakers concurred that Lady Dixie was “his lady” and took 99 percent of his heart.

Johnny Grief spoke of a true friend and true lover that Barry was. “Barry loved life and life loved Barry; Barry Loved Belize and Belize loved Barry; Barry Loved San Pedro and San Pedro Loved Barry…Barry was a loss to the whole country of Belize.”

One thing Barry loved was fishing and though not the luckiest of fishermen, he has a record to be broken and he always remained optimistic that the next bite would be that of a 400-pound marlin.

All his children made mention that Barry was at times a difficult dad to live with both at home and in the workplace because he only knew one way of doing things and it was his way. And even if his children’s theories proved to be successful, Barry still felt his way was a better way. “But he made us become better persons and we shall make him proud of our lives, our family and in business,” commented his son Zander Bowen. “He wanted us to find the best within ourselves.”

At Barry’s memorial there was a lot of recollection and anecdotes of his life and principles; there was laughter and applause, tears and affection, hugs and condolences, and there were flowers to continue the Hawaiian party to be put on by the Island Academy the very evening of Barry’s tragic accident.

Barry loved to party and in his honor, Dixie and family offered wine, food and good Belizean Belikin Beer in his honor. Hundreds of persons attended the memorial and mingled about before and afterwards to chit chat anecdotes about the life of Sir Barry Bowen, September 19, 1945 to February 26, 2010. And as they say in England, “Long Live the King”, we all say, “Long Live Barry.”

The funeral of the late Sir Barry Bowen took place on Tuesday, March 2, at 10:00a.m. at the St. John’s Cathedral on Albert Street in Belize City. His coffin was transported by the Belize Defense Force Hearst from Belize City to the San Ignacio Cemetery were his body was laid to rest and the official wreath laying and graveside honors were bestowed.

Funeral pictures provided by Channel 5

At about 4:45 a.m. on Monday, March 01, Ambergris Today was first to arrive at the scene of what appeared to be a traffic accident. The police pick-up truck crashed into the fence of the San Pedro R.C. School on Tarpon Street.

According to an eye witness, the police car was speeding on Pescador Drive heading to Tarpon Street and appeared to have an injured person on the back when he slammed on the schools fence. The injured person was then transported the San Pedro Poly Clinic. The Police vehicle was later removed from the street at about 5:45 a.m.

Sgt. Dominquez of the San Pedro Police Department stated that between 3:45a.m. and 4:15a.m. Corporal Gavin Sanchez was taking a complainant that had a stab wound on his head to the San Pedro Poly Clinic and along with him were Dr. Otto Rodriguez and another police officer. He further stated that the vehicle was travelling at a “moderate speed” on Pescador Drive and while making a right turn into Tarpon Street the vehicle experienced “mechanical failure” and the brakes failed, causing them to crash into the San Pedro R.C. School fence.

As a result Dr. Otto Rodriguez received a fractured leg, the police officer received injuries to one of his feet and minor head injuries, and the complainant being taken to the Clinic further received two cut wounds on the head. All three were later transported to the San Pedro Poly Clinic for medical attention.

Some residents, who we have spoken to, have expressed their concerns over police officers speeding through the streets when there is no need for them to do so. Others have expressed that they believe some of the police officers on the island like to operate the police truck under the influence of alcohol while on duty; both of these issues were dismissed by Sgt. Dominguez.

Whoever is at fault, be it a police officer or civilian, we do hope that the Police Department takes action accordingly. On the other hand we hope that the San Pedro Police Department takes good care of their patrol vehicles and conducts routine maintenance on them, much like we see the Fire Department looking after the fire trucks.

Fortunately the accident occurred in the wee hours in the morning and not during the day when these streets are heavily trafficked by pedestrians, especially school children.

The peaceful monotony of a Monday afternoon on Barrier Drive was interrupted at about 5:30p.m. when the driver of a Polaris swerved to avoid hitting someone, causing it to flip and land on top of him.

According to eye witnesses, the driver of the Polaris was speeding and upon trying to avoid hitting the person he swerved to the left causing the Polaris to overturn and landing on top of the driver. The driver was assisted by those who were around and received medical attention by Dr. Daniel Gonzalez.

According to Police reports, upon arriving on the scene of the traffic accident on Barrier Reef Drive they observed that a Lebanese national was seen lying on the pavement face down complaining of pain to the neck and both legs. The male person was transported to the Ambergris Hopes Clinic for further medical attention.

According to their investigation the male person was driving a camouflage ATV bearing License plate SPC 1459 at a high speed and lost control causing the vehicle to overturn several times and fell on his legs causing self injuries, the driver of the vehicle was later identified as 18-year-old Lagha Mahmud, Lebanese National of North San Pedro Town.

Speeding is a major problem in the island; no one ever seems respects the speed limit in the town area of 10 miles per hour. Authorities should be more vigilant and motorist should also respect the speed limit and be more cautious, before any major accident occurs.

A San Pedro resident, Eladio Balam, pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of causing death by careless conduct in the accidental death of an eight-year-old boy. In May 2007, 45-year-old Eladio Balam, accidentally reversed his Bobcat tractor into Jose Raudeles who was walking his bicycle from school on his way home.

On Friday, February 26, Balam, who had initially been indicted for manslaughter by negligence and causing death by careless conduct pleaded guilty to the charge. He was fined $8,000 by the court and was ordered to pay $10,000 to the family of the deceased. In mitigation plea before Justice Michelle Arana, two character witnesses spoke on Balam’s behalf. Before passing her ruling Justice Arana said that by law, the offence carries a maximum of two years; however, based on testimony by the character witnesses and the fact that he assisted the little boy after he was knocked down she would not send him to jail. (News source: Channel 5) Picture included

San Pedro Police Detained Driver in Fatal Traffic Accident

On May 17, 2007, it was a beautiful day that turned out to become a tragic one for Graciela Santos as her only son, eight year old Jose Raudalez, was involved in a traffic accident that took him away from her.

San Pedro Police have detained Eladio Balam, the driver of a construction vehicle (Bobcat) that was involved in a traffic accident that left the San Pedro R.C. school student dead with injuries to the head. Forty two year old Eladio Balam, of the San Juan area in San Pedro Town, reported to Police that sometime around 11a.m. on Thursday, May 17, 2007, he was driving a Bobcat on the alleyway that separates the San Pedro Roman Catholic School and the Sunbreeze Hotel in the airstrip area when a small child on a bicycle attempted to overtake the vehicle.

According to Balam, the alleyway in which he was traveling was narrow and the child's bicycle handle touched against a wall causing him to lose control. As a result, the child fell and hit his head against a steel portion of the vehicle and was rendered unconscious. The young child was transported to the Lion's Clinic but was pronounced dead on arrival. The post mortem results indicated that Jose died of Trauma Shock due to chest injuries as a result of the accident.

Amongst the screaming cheers of his fans, DJ Flex arrived in San Pedro on Saturday, February 27, at around 3pm in preparation for his concert set for that night. Mayor Elsa Paz welcomed DJ Flex as he also greeted and hyped his fans inviting them to his concert.

That night, DJ Flex brought down the house with an excellent performance that attracted thousands to the old football field to witness the rising superstar. "Nigga" lured a massive crowd to his concert this past weekend and he did not fail to entertain! Party goers were not disappointed with the Panama Star's performance as DJ Flex sang hit after hit. He was impressed that the crowd knew every lyric of every song that he put out. Those in attendance commented that his concert had been the best independently promoted concert so far – San Pedro Enjoyed!

Click HERE for DJ Flex Concert videos on our blog.