In February, a 7news expose revealed mass fraud in the butane industry. Since then a law has been enacted - but not effected - to install scales at every butane depot in Belize.
7News director Jules Vasquez broke the story - along with businessman Lascelle Arnold who validated our findings when he produced documentary evidence which demonstrated beyond any doubt that butane companies had been overcharging him for years.
That created waves in the public and stirred a tsunami in the butane industry where it's fair to say that more than a few business models were built on fleecing the public.
The public uproar from the story has subsided but it's a fair conclusion that a number of businesses stand to lose lots of money when the scales are installed.
And Jules and Lascelle believe those losses and the sustained pressure to enact the law from this media house are what has caused a most extraordinary, even surreal event.
At a press conference this afternoon, the pair disclosed a plan to put a hit on them.
Jules explained that the conclusion is based on four pieces of information, from three different sources including one source who was approached to carry out the hit. Here are the details:…
Jules Vasquez
"We have receive information that there is a hit out on the both of us by supposedly orchestrated by persons who have vested interest in the butane industry."
Lascelle Arnold
"Then Monday in Belmopan two persons came and meet with me in Belmopan, we were just crossing the street and we ended up speaking. The person told me exactly what was about to happen - something that was plan two weeks ago and within those two weeks we had where they were casing out the place business - the Belize Dry Cleaners and Channel 7. They talk about the vehicle that I drive and the vehicle that Jules drive and one other information I got is concerning Mr. Vasquez, that they will make news in front of Channel 7. I mean we can just read between the lines. They didn't say what they will do and what will happen, they just say that news will be make in front of Channel 7. Today I provided the person with some pictures and
immediately he identify the people. We will not call names because this is a serious thing and we don't wan any back and forth. Like what Jules said that we want to nip it in the bud and see how this thing could go away. The reason why we take it so serous is because the person that was contacted actually gave me detail by detail and actually explains to me how this thing is supposed to be carried out. We look at all the evidence and then we realize that this is very serious. So serious that they know for the past two weeks the amount of time I showed up at work, what time I reach, what time I left, what time my wife reach, what time she left, every single movement for the last two weeks and we didn't even know."
Jules Vasquez
"One of the main things I spoke to Lascelle about when we spoke earlier is that I am not trying to bring drama. i don't need attention, fame, publicity. I tried to avoid it as much as it's a natural part of the job, so we are not trying to create undue excitement or drama or generate some type of public sympathy. We believe it is a credible threat and in the current climate where there are regular daylight executions, we felt that we had to act on it in a public way. It's like when an invader is in your property, there's no sense in tip toeing around. Its best you make as much noise as you can."
No formal police complaint has been made but Arnold has made a report to the Commissioner of Police.
In a strange coincidence, on Tuesday afternoon, a man threw a stone through the glass door at Arnold's business, Belize Dry Cleaners. A man - who'd recently come off a murder charge was detained - but not charged. He appeared incoherent and mentally disturbed to police.
The S.I. requiring scales to be installed at every place where butane is sold is almost 60 days old but has still not been activated. Up to today, only 12 scales have been validated by the Bureau of Standards.
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