Captain of catamaran charged after tourist dies during trip
Last Wednesday US National, fifty-nine year old Diana Mechling lost her life during a snorkeling trip to Goff’s Caye when the propeller of the catamaran she had just alighted from slashed her right hip and leg. Today the Belize Port Authority issued a release stating that following an inquiry by the harbor master, the captain of the vessel, Martin Pariente, has been charged with Negligently Causing Loss of Life under the Harbours and Merchant Shipping Act. Pariente has also lost his captain’s license indefinitely. In addition, the vessel, Reef Rocket, has been banned from sailing pending further inquiries. The Port Authority release states that Diana got entangled in the vessel’s propeller and was severely injured. Diana and her husband Michael were in Belize on a one day cruise.
Again, was he tested to make sure he was not impaired by drugs & alcohol? All I ask is that you guys do a thorough job so that you have a leg to stand on when this man challenges the severity of the penalty because it is infringing on his right to earn a living.
Belize goes in the black book again in BOLD letters
NOT GOOD FOR THE WHOLE INDUSTRY……….IT’S A BIG BLACK EYE ON BELIZE.
If it was a belizean that was dead at the hands of an american in their country believe u me, not a thing would have happened to the american……. but belizeans are dealt with a hard hand when it comes to a situation like this. What if it was not the captains fault? u can tell someone not to do something but americans are re-known to be dare-devils. Think about it, u see it on tv daily.
It is real important we keep this industry (cruise) with the smaller tour operator to prevent more incidents like these. We have to keep the different tours on a personalized style . This in turn will give more jobs and customers will be better taken care off . Let us keep it as safe as we do for the overnight guests !!
Billy
I can agree that this was a bad thing that perhaps could have been avoided and the action taken was deserving but people die every day because of accidents all over America and other parts of the world. We still all like to come to America. My question is why is this such a BIG BLACK EYE for Belize and not so bad when it happens in America?
America’s soil is watered with the blood of many who worked in coal mines and other factories, they grew because of these mistakes. There are prop guards to prevent damage to wildlife and humans that these vessels can be retrofitted with.
This is a tragedy for sure. I think it is unfair to assume that it would not happen so if it were turned around in America, the person would have the option to file charges of neglect or whatever they thought the circumstance was. I do not believe this gives Belize a bad name or “black eye” it was simply an accident .. the captain didn’t mean harm. I will come back again and again for travel/ tours/ to hang out with my family there. It is just an accident. N America is a lot bigger that Belize so the news broadcast will be showing different things .. Belize is small so when something like this happens it is front page ..
ACCIDENTS ARE…………. SOMEONE’S IRRESPONSIBILITY COMING TO BARE………….
I am a friend of the departed. Do not attempt to insult Diana’s integrity by suggesting that she would not follow instructions. She is a grandmother who was very careful in her life, knowing this personally, I suggest you avoid jumping to conclusions because ignorance is unbecoming of a stranger who has little knowledge of the actual person. So I ask you politely, if you have any integrity yourself, leave it to the investigators and not the arm chair detectives.