AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Belize Life News John McAfee Roughed Up By GSU

How to win friends and influence people...

So I guess my "Where the Hell is Belize" tee shirt won't be too relevant anymore.

I don't know if that axiom "all publicity is good" holds true in this case. But if so, the GSU has done more for Belize than the BTB has and with far less money.

Thats rich and he can be stung by the same methods he used to procure items he could not live without. The US has a law where you can be prosecuted for for bribing public officials in foreign countries, whether you are Walmart in MX and an oil company in Africa and assume it would be the same in BZ, especially as he has been open to the press about his giftings to public officials and Ministers of Govt. There are two sides to every story and never forget, Belize is like an onion, the more layers you peel, the more info you find. I am not defending or condemning, but know there is more here than meets the eyes or ears.

The irony of all this is that if McAfee had anything illicit running there he would have got rid of it all straight after the first refused search attempt.

Unless this set up is some elaborate ruse by a really stupid man I believe his alternative medicine is actually what he is doing. The GSU are by the nature of their job suspicious in Belize of anything drug related and have probably assumed the worst when talk of labs and chemists etc arise. A similar arm of the Police in US UK etc are also going to go in heavy handed. They are Policemen after all and that's how a lot of them get their kicks - OK unfair jibe but it has a ring of truth in my experience the world over.

Refusal will have got their goat and hence the heavy handed response. All who have lived here any length of time will know how locals don't like being told what is what by foreigners, and why should they. Please don't tell me this hasn't happened to immigrants in US UK etc etc. This one happens to have some clout and seems intent to use it. Not correct, but pretty common everywhere I'll bet and pretty naive not to have expected something along these lines. Saddened by the Dog, impressed by the girlfriend - that herbal shit must work!!!!!

How often do raids occur in Belize City, or elsewhere, by BDF and GSU forces using 45 officers?

It seems to me that someone in politics could have spoken with McAfee beforehand.

Would a Bowen, Espat, Fonseca, add in other long time Belize family names, etc. be raided like this?

It seems like there might be about six different sides to the story...

Exactly Rick a Belize name like that would never be treated this way but I guess that is so to a greater or lesser degree in any country.

Also if an immigrant in the US or UK (I'll presume) was treated this way and they made a complaint the first thing that would happe in the investigation would be to find out the basis for the warrant. (it now seems that there was a warrant) If it was found that a policeman lied to get the warrant he would be history and that is fact. The judges who issue warrants wouldn't put up with it and the public wouldn't.

" impressed by the girlfriend - that herbal shit must work!!!!!"

Come on Phil, look at my picture and at McAfee. Why would you not expect young pretty girls to fall in love with us.
Oh, and Ernie, if you were just a little more handsome, I would include you.

As a point of reference, when I built Lighthouse Reef Resorts on Northern Two Cayes we built an airstrip, had huge fuel tanks, had an airplane, had lots of boats and about 25 guys out there. Not surprisingly one day the BDF showed up in airplanes and descended upon us armed and scoured the entire island, checked everyones papers, searched everyone and everything and checked the guns of which there was one rifle used to keep off the crocs. Everything was in order and they left. I think it was a valid search as we certainly fit the profile of a big drugs operation. If there had been ANYTHING wrong it would have gone differently but we were very cooperative and Colin quickly put away the dogs and gave the guided tour.
Some posters have thought it off that the police would have kept him handcuffed. They found lots of guns scattered about and would have been very unprofessional and potentially dangerous to allow that amount of people to be around unrestrained.
I agree there may be more to the situation that we do not know about but I do not believe it was because of not paying a campaign contribution. It is published on Wikipedia that the politician was Gaspar Vega. That is serious stuff as would be tampering with the Registry and such claims should not be tossed about lightly and without the ability to back them up as they have international repercussions.
Now threats to try to get a travel advisory against Belize and he has not even been arrested. What comes to mind is that the best defense is a good offense. Me thinks he protesteth too much. Maybe we are waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Humph, if I were any more handsome, they would tax me twice.

I think Mr McAfee came across very credible and I believe him based on his interview of the facts according to him.

He is a very rich guy that has been rich for many years and normally people of such wealth are treated with the utmost respect and in this case it seems from what has been presented that he has been disrespected and he has a right to be pissed off.

I believe he does have the power to do Belize massive harm in the International press and it would be wise for Belize to come out and disclose exactly what this raid was about because what has been presented so far is weak and it leads me to believe the accusation of a refused pay off may very well be true based on what has been presented thus far..

Now if that is not the case then Belize better come out and present something more than a firearm license paperwork screw up.

It is perfectly credible that those firearms were for his protection as he is a target as one of the richest men in Belize and it makes perfect sense he needs that much security.

Right now, until Belize comes out and produces something more than one firearms licence violation, Mr McAfee is the one that is more credible so far.

Gaz Cooper