7 News Belize

When Kelvin Came Home
posted (September 28, 2017)
And so the vigil for Kelvin is ongoing at this hour - our news team is there - and they tell us he has just arrived at the Battlefield Park.

We'll have coverage of that later on in the news when our team returns - but the excitement started this morning when he arrived to his Sibun Street home.

There was a kind of impromptu street celebration. The family asked our news team to give the family some privacy and not tape. But Courtney Weatherburne has been able to put together Facebook video and pictures to show what it was like. She also spoke to Kelvin's mother about how it feels to have her son back home:...

Justin Usher, Friend
"I believe that hope is there and I have faith, we have to keep our faith as a nation and together we have to stand in solidarity and in unity because we are the people of this nation."

Courtney Weatherburne reporting
And it is with that unified hope and faith that Kelvin Usher's family and friends gathered around his Sibun Street home this morning. They stood close by, peering unto the verandah to get a glimpse of the 17 year old boy - who finally made it home safely.

Onlooker
"Thank God Bwai."

Everyone was relieved and overjoyed as Usher walked out into the welcoming crowd.

Karima Williams, Mother
"I was so excited, I was called to come over and I met him at his father's house and he was sitting on a bench and I saw him and I went to hug him and he is sitting and I am hugging him and he said "mommy I was worried about you." I said you were worrying about me, me? My goodness gracious - It's overwhelming. I am glad that everybody came out and help me along the way. I am so grateful for every person, even the little kids that pass me and said ma'am I hope you find him and stuff. I am so grateful for everybody."

There are a number of reports as to where Usher was found but the most credible report is that his father came upon Usher about 200 feet from a farm in Lucky Strike Village.

Apart from cuts on his hand, Usher was okay. But according to his mother it was a horrifying experience for her son being alone and lost in the bushes with little to nothing to eat.

Karima Williams, Mother
"He said the first night he was like scared and stuff like that. Then the other days he just kept on praying onward and stuff."

Courtney Weatherburne, reporter
"Did he say what he did for food and to drink?"

Karima Williams, Mother
"He didn't physically eat solid foods. For drinks he said he drank water from the swamp and one spell he found some leaves, I think the Meringa Tree and he started eating it and just today he came, he said like from last night into this morning he thought he saw us - he start seeing us and he start walking towards us and then he walked and he came up upon a farm where he shouted for someone and ask them for food and the gentleman gave him some tomatoes, coconut and some berries."

Courtney Weatherburne, reporter
"So after that incident with the GSU, maybe after the heard the shots being fired he darted into the bushes and just went to hide?"

Karima Williams, Mother
"Yes, he said shots were fired and then he start running and he pause for a while and then he heard it again. Like I said anybody that knows about gunshots - when you hear gunshots you run. So that's what took place."

Courtney Weatherburne, reporter
"Just that he ran too far into the bushes. Why didn't he maybe come out the same way that he went in?"

Karima Williams, Mother
"I am not so sure. I guess he ran from the day into night and then night fall came and..."

Courtney Weatherburne, reporter
"When you guys were out on the search, he explained to you all that he heard you guys, but you guys didn't heard him shouting back."

Karima Williams, Mother
"He said he heard us yesterday evening and he said he heard like a plane or something and he took off a sock and he put it on a stick and he tried to put it up to say maybe if we were flying up on top, we are going to see him down there."

Courtney Weatherburne, reporter
"I know there was this suspicion surrounding this incident that the GSU or the police had something to do with your son's disappearance. Others were saying that the GSU killed him and we ask the police directly. But do you have anything to say in response to that?"

Karima Williams, Mother
"Well I wasn't saying - to me I know he wasn't dead. To say they killed him, no. I was saying that it seemed odd, because they never mentioned that shots were fired. They never mentioned about other people being dispersed."

But regardless of the varying narratives and speculation, Usher's family and friends are just happy to have him back safe and sound. They took to the streets this evening dressed in white certainly with a calmer spirit than in yesterday's protest. They moved off from Belcan Bridge at 5:00 and made their way to a thanksgiving celebration at the Battlefield Park.

Kelvin is a first year SJCJC sixth form student. Right now he's at the vigil held in his honour, and our news team will have that later for you.

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

7 News Belize