Body 2000 - it's the largest and most popular gym in Belize City - and sports all the posh clientele, from the Prime Minister and his wife, to the northside nouveau riche. But this afternoon, those getting in their Friday workout were told by police that they had to pack up and go home - because the gym was bring closed by order of the city council. The receptionist was handed a letter and stiff instruction to close down the gym or she could be arrested.
Why? Well, IT seems that the owner didn't pay his 2015 trade license - and so City Hall moved in with police enforcement. One of the gym regulars who was caught mid-rep is activist Geovanni Bracket. He told us why he was upset:..
Geovannie Brackett
"I was shocked today when I came here. When I got off work a bit early and when I came here to find out to see a bunch of police officers I'm not sure if they had guns or anything but they came really like they just frightened the young lady from here with city council workers to close down the gym. Body 2000 is not like a bank that makes millions and when I had a brief talk with the owner 
just before I started and I heard the taxation to me was ridiculous but I was quite shocked. I'm not sure about the background details, if they had talks to work out something with the gym but the city council does have a fitness program they are doing at the park and I think if they are going to be encouraging the public to be involved in fitness training and getting there health on track, I think you have to use some kind of special program some we can keep gyms alive because a lot of people come to this gym every day. I come to this gym every day. And if you have 25 people it's a lot sometimes. My friend here can tell you he did a strong man competition and he use this gym as well. He could tell you how effective you need a gym."
Monica Bodden
"Could you all just describe to us what happened? I noticed a lot of you guys where inside and I noticed a lot of young people left the gym. You guys were inside working out and the police officers just came in and..."
Geovannie Brackett
"Well I just saw them presenting a letter to the receptionist and she looked spooked after reading the letter and whatever information was told to her. She came up stairs. I saw them looking around. There were probably about 10 people upstairs and about a few more downstairs."
Customer
"I'm not sure about the legalities given to the owner but when this happens like every day for about month because last year the same thing happened. They come in everyday and they are adamant about it and they kick you out. They even threaten you. They tell you if you come back you are committing a crime and they will charge you which was what they told the receptionist earlier. They told her if you do not get this people out we will charge you guys. They are really rough and tough about it and they don't give you a chance. They just rush you out. It's a big inconvenience to us that pay our gym fees because it's not cheap."
Reporter
"The owners ever express to you all what's happening, like what's the problem?"
Customer
"No, they have never debrief to us on what's happening in terms of the city council or whatever they just told us that they are going through a rough patch and if you can please corporate and stuff like that."
Reporter
"If this has happened a lot what would you like to see? You are a paying member."
Customer
"I'd like to just see it resolve like just once and for all because it can't be happening every year because summer is our only free time we have as students because during the school semester, it's really hard to put in time at the gym and then during the summer you have all this free time. You have all day to catch up and they just stick you in the gut and then take it away from you. It's really unfair."
Reporter
"This has happened before, would you say your problem or issue with it is with perhaps the management and the ownership and it's not necessarily the people who are closing it down."
Customer
"Well I can't really say much on that because I don't know what exactly what's going on. I don't know if it's something that the manager's part or if they are attacking him for unknown reasons but it's really taking a toll on us because we are considering changing gym and I don't want to do that because I've been here for three years and I'm loyal to this gym. I don't want to just pick up leave but if we have to that them we have to because we are just wasting our money."
The owner of the gym insisted that they had paid his three thousand dollar trade license fee just this week - but could not find the receipt. He remained on the phone for some time but couldn't seem to work it out - so the gym remains closed tonight.
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