AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Belize by District Toledo Someone Tried To Poison A Village

Today, shocking news emerged from the Toledo District. The residents of San Vicente Village were highly dismayed to find out that their water system had been poisoned. Apparently, a malicious villager emptied a bottle of insecticide inside their water tanks. And while this particular brand of insecticide isn't lethal, it was enough to send six residents to the hospital with belly aches.

The Public Health Inspector became suspicious when the residents reported a strange smell coming out of their pipes and after an investigation, they found the source of the poisoning. The Principal Public Health Inspector at the Ministry of Health told us more.

John Bodden, Principal Public Health Inspector, MOH
"Yesterday we received a report from Ms. Martinez in regards to some poisoning on water in San Vicente. Unfortunately, at the time when it was reported nobody really knew what had transpired until eventually, they started to a little assessment in the area and then it was mentioned that some individual has emptied a bottle of malathion in the tank's water and basically, they start smelling odor in the area. The bottle was found in the area and the scent was there and so public health immediately start to get in action in terms of what needs to be done to control and safeguard the population. So at that time the immediate closure of the system was ordered and the chairman of the water board was contacted and they were notified that the system should not be operated until it is clean and has been tested and is found to be safe for use again."

"Since that time, we have taken water samples, both for chemical and bacterial testing and that sample now is in Belize City. Unfortunately, we are unable to test malathion specifically in terms of the chemical sampling and so we are seeking the support of BAHA to do that for us."

Reporter
"Malathion is an insecticide?"

John Bodden, Principal Public Health Inspector, MOH
"It is an insecticide mainly use for crops and in Belize its regulated, it a green labelled product. However, as you know San Vicente is close to the border and people can actually go across the border and purchase the insecticide. From time to time we find out that people have it, who should not have that in their possession. What we have done, we have notified the police so that they can do their investigation and ofcourse there are some leads that they are looking at that will be taken care of by the police."

And while normally, water tanks are built several feet high with a perimeter around it, this San Vicente's one wasn't so secure, according to Bodden.

John Bodden, Principal Public Health Inspector, MOH
"The system in San Vicente is not the traditional rural water system. It's a rudimentary water system, its a platform elevated about 12 feet above the ground, a cement platform with 2 water tanks on the top and then that water is fed to the community."

"There are a number of things we are looking at in terms of recommendation, ofcourse one of them - the standard construction of one of these water systems is to have a perimeter boundary around the area, so that nobody can actually get close to it and then it would have a gate that is locked and control. In the other systems, you can put a lock unto the system, but unfortunately this one is not that type, so it can still be access by individual, because it's just a screw lid on the top."

And according to a press release from MOH, one person has since been detained by police. The residents who had been exhibiting possible associated symptoms hare being monitored at the Punta Gorda Hospital. Personnel from the ministry returned to the village today to assess the situation, and they certified that the water system is now fit for reuse after both reservoirs were flushed out.

Channel 7

Police Investigating Village Water Poisoning

2 days ago, we told you about the shocking story coming out of the Village of San Vicente in the Toledo District where it was discovered that their water system had been poisoned.

As we told you, the best information from health authorities is that some malicious individual emptied a bottle of insecticide into their water tanks. Although the chemicals were not lethal, it did cause 6 villagers to go to the hospital with stomach aches.

The Public Health Authorities have confirmed that the village's water system was poisoned with Malathion, and reports are that the community has written to the police commissioner. They have allegedly asked that the person they suspect as the culprit be banned from the village. Here's what the ComPol had to say about that today:

Reporter
"Is this something the police is able to do?"

Chester Williams - Commissioner of Police
"The last I checked under the constitution as Belizeans, we're free to move around this country in any part of the country you want without impeded by police or anyone except in situations where you have committed a crime and the police is there to detain us and certainly yes, if it is that he is the one responsible for the poisoning of the water system, then it's a matter for the police to deal with. Once we have the evidence that indicates that he is the one who did, then he should be arrested and charged. So the officers in Punta Gorda Town are doing what they can to be able to get the evidence that we would need to effect an arrest in that manner."

Reporter
"Can you share any details on that investigation so far?"

Chester Williams
"At this time I know that the person was brought into custody, I am not certain where the investigation is at this time but it's something we're working on."

Channel 7