7 News Belize

Vitalino Gives His Side Of Yohnny Story
posted (February 17, 2014)
Last week, WE told you about the situation developing with Yhony Rosado, the owner of Cavetubing.com, where he is fighting an allegation of disorderly conduct in the Magistrate's Court and before the Belize Tourism Board's Licensing Committee. His accuser is Vitalino Reyes Sr., one of his competitors, who owns Cavetubing.bz. Rosado claims that the Reyes family is trying to destroy his reputation and his business, but Reyes claims that he's doing no such thing.

Reyes visited 7News today to explain his side of the story where he claims that Rosado tried to steal some guests from him, and when he was unsuccessful, Rosado allegedly assaulted him. Here's how Reyes explained it to us:

Daniel Ortiz
"You do understand that whatever you say to us is not final. You have to go to court and prove these things and we as the media have to accept the ruling of the court. We can only present facts and the facts are Mr. Rosado beats that case and he is now claiming that he will be able to beat this allegation as well, so what you say to us has no real bearing on the case. Do you understand that?"

Vitalino Reyes Sr.
"I understand that - that's why I say I had to come to the media too because I know that a lot of people will say that he has a big influence - police will be interesting in the case. I say that I have nothing to hide; I need to come and say these things because it's not fair for just him accusing me. He is actually saying that he is the victim, but he is not the victim, I am the victim."

"On December 26th actually he talks to this group and he told them that his price is $35 and it's the best and things like that. The leader was not there but part of the group wanted to go with him, but now they look at me as a thief, they say why are you charging me $15 more than what he is charging; he is $35 and you are $50, why? And I start to explain that I have a van, I have 2 tour guides and I have a helmet, LED light - those are very expensive equipment and he (Yhony) doesn't have that. I explain that and I went to dispatch my guests because they choose to go with me and at the end the paid me the $50."

"Now what happened when I came back - he comes and he actually have a clipboard and he wants to push me like in my face and say "Vitalino, there is nothing you can do, my price is $35 and you can't do anything about that." I said Yhony, I don't really want to get in that with you. There was a dispatcher from BTB and I was talking to him and he come and tells me that he (Yhony) uses a lot of "F" words and things like that, threatening words. After the third time, I told him Yhony, if you really want to do something, do it here because there are a lot of people."

As to the 2-month delay, Reyes said that the police are responsible for that. He also claims that his business interests are no designed to compete directly with Yhony Rosado, explaining that his operation is not only cave tubing tours. He also claims to have at one point been friends with Rosado, and that he hopes that they can somehow call a truce.

As we told you, Rosado beat a gun charge in Magistrate's Court after Vitalino Reyes' son, Vitalino Jr., claimed that Rosado pulled a gun on him.

Rosado must return to court for the charge of Disorderly Conduct on March 25. He claims he is being targeted by the BTB. Today, we asked the Director of Tourism for her position on that:..

Geovanni Brackett, reporter
"Is his operating license in jeopardy?"

Laura Esquivel Frampton, Director of Tourism
"I am not at liberty to say that as yet. I haven't received a report from the committee, so I am not sure what the decision was."

Geovanni Brackett, reporter
"Would an operator license be in jeopardy for a merely disorderly conduct?"

Laura Esquivel Frampton, Director of Tourism
"It really depends on the severity. Generally no, generally that is not the case. The committee is able to recommend a reprimand, a suspension or a revocation of license and I have not heard what the recommendation is as yet. Generally it is not the case that a license would be revoke for such things unless it's in tandem with many other things."

Home | Archives | Downloads/Podcasts | Advertise | Contact Us

7 News Belize