<p>The Federation of Cruise Tourism Associations of <em>Belize</em>, <em>FECTAB called a press conference this morning that was filled with emotions; so much emotions that President Tom Greenwood cursed and FECTAB member Yohnnie Rosado cried. Like in many other previous press conferences, FECTAB had a lot to say about Carnival’s Chukka Belize, the Belize Tourism Board and the Government of Belize. But the main reasons that FECTAB called the press conference was to let Belize know through the media, that Chukka Belize has had several “incidences” with tourist and that Chukka Belize is controlling the tour operating business in Belize. FECTAB says that Chukka has been hiring inexperience tour guides which had led to several tourists being injured on several occasions. Chukka Belize has sent out a release refuting the allegations and Chukka’s Country Manager, Valerie Woods says it is blatantly untrue and inflammatory. It’s a feud that has been ongoing and shows no signs of calming down. We got both sides of the bad blood between both companies and here is what they had to say. </em></p>
<p><em><b>YOHNNIE ROSADO </b></em></p>
<p><em><b>“We know we are doing what is right fighting for our business, it’s every native person; if it were an American they would be </b></em><em><b>fighting for their business, in this case we are Belizeans and we don’t have respect for any company that comes from outside and try to knock us out of business. I remember a meeting that the tour operators were in along with BTB and NICH and I remember Valerie Woods came in and said that she is not here to make any friends; I came here to do my business. Well here it comes again, Ms. Valerie Woods, I am not afraid of you or Chukka or even this Government of Belize that are not ready to protect the people. This Christmas comes and we don’t have jobs; I own my business, I invest every penny in this business. BTB has not apologized to me either verbally or written, they are waiting for me to make a mistake. Forgive me but it hurts me very much to know that I put everything in this business. BTB nor NICH nor Chukka don’t get up every day at four o’clock in the morning and do the work that I do. So, it hurts me when I smell corruption, it hurts me to see Mexicans are fighting the cartels, the Americans are fighting all the cocaine that go into their country but our government can’t fight to protect us and our honest living but this government knows how to play politics; on election day they will gather a couple millions and give everybody fifty or a hundred dollars and win elections again and so am telling people in this country, don’t let any money fool you; if you see the unions bawling and you see the people bawling, vote them out.”</b></em></p>
<p><em><b>TOM GREENWOOD</b></em></p>
<p><em><b>“This has to (beep) stop; this has to stop because I am bloody angry. Where did this come from? How do you attack your own and you leave something from outside to laugh and enjoy. Tourism will continue to receive a black eye if we entertain entities in this country that do no good for this country, entities that are here and are blatantly trying to destroy native guides and operators.”</b></em></p>
<p><em><b>VALERIE WOODS</b></em></p>
<p><em><b>“This is not the first time that the media has been called out by FECTAB because of a very melodramatic and grandstanding position that they take due to a personal issue or gripe that Tom Greenwood appears to have with Chukka. He has personally declared war on Chukka and it is unfortunate that he is using a personal tragedy to exploit that. This is nothing more than Tom Greenwood and FECTAB having an issue with Chukka and knowing that they can call out the media and make it melodramatic. We recognize this for what it is that Tom Greenwood and FECTAB will continue to have a gripe because of the foreign ownership of Chukka. I can’t do anything about that but I will not resort to the tactics that they have resorted to that is completely irresponsible. This is nothing but the ranting of a man with a personal issue.”</b></em><em> </em><em></em></p>
<p><em>Seeing how the events have been unfolding, no one on either side anticipates a truce anytime soon. </em></p>
<p> </p>
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<p><em><b>YOHNNIE ROSADO </b></em></p>
<p><em><b>“We know we are doing what is right fighting for our business, it’s every native person; if it were an American they would be </b></em><em><b>fighting for their business, in this case we are Belizeans and we don’t have respect for any company that comes from outside and try to knock us out of business. I remember a meeting that the tour operators were in along with BTB and NICH and I remember Valerie Woods came in and said that she is not here to make any friends; I came here to do my business. Well here it comes again, Ms. Valerie Woods, I am not afraid of you or Chukka or even this Government of Belize that are not ready to protect the people. This Christmas comes and we don’t have jobs; I own my business, I invest every penny in this business. BTB has not apologized to me either verbally or written, they are waiting for me to make a mistake. Forgive me but it hurts me very much to know that I put everything in this business. BTB nor NICH nor Chukka don’t get up every day at four o’clock in the morning and do the work that I do. So, it hurts me when I smell corruption, it hurts me to see Mexicans are fighting the cartels, the Americans are fighting all the cocaine that go into their country but our government can’t fight to protect us and our honest living but this government knows how to play politics; on election day they will gather a couple millions and give everybody fifty or a hundred dollars and win elections again and so am telling people in this country, don’t let any money fool you; if you see the unions bawling and you see the people bawling, vote them out.”</b></em></p>
<p><em><b>TOM GREENWOOD</b></em></p>
<p><em><b>“This has to (beep) stop; this has to stop because I am bloody angry. Where did this come from? How do you attack your own and you leave something from outside to laugh and enjoy. Tourism will continue to receive a black eye if we entertain entities in this country that do no good for this country, entities that are here and are blatantly trying to destroy native guides and operators.”</b></em></p>
<p><em><b>VALERIE WOODS</b></em></p>
<p><em><b>“This is not the first time that the media has been called out by FECTAB because of a very melodramatic and grandstanding position that they take due to a personal issue or gripe that Tom Greenwood appears to have with Chukka. He has personally declared war on Chukka and it is unfortunate that he is using a personal tragedy to exploit that. This is nothing more than Tom Greenwood and FECTAB having an issue with Chukka and knowing that they can call out the media and make it melodramatic. We recognize this for what it is that Tom Greenwood and FECTAB will continue to have a gripe because of the foreign ownership of Chukka. I can’t do anything about that but I will not resort to the tactics that they have resorted to that is completely irresponsible. This is nothing but the ranting of a man with a personal issue.”</b></em><em> </em><em></em></p>
<p><em>Seeing how the events have been unfolding, no one on either side anticipates a truce anytime soon. </em></p>
<p> </p>
View the full article