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We have seen the particulars of the contracts and calculated the annual charges - but while the Belize Airports Authority will cover the first year of charges for the security services - which is 1.2 million, after that it will be passed onto passengers.

posted (April 30, 2025)
Narda Garcia, CEO, Ministry of Civil Aviation
"What I do know from the meetings that I went to the BAA before talking conceptually about the whole issue of security services, the BAA said that they can absorb the cost for one year but after that they would have to levy a fee for security services."

After year two- right through to year 10, the costs for these contracts will be 2.8 million dollars annually.

posted (April 30, 2025)
Reporter-
"So it signals a potential increase in the air travel cost domestically?"

Narda Garcia, CEO, Ministry of Civil Aviation
"Definitely yes."

Garcia said she went to meetings and had conceptual discussions - she was, after all, as CEO a member of the board. Meanwhile, her daughter Thea Garcia was the General Manager - a politically appointed post. Another key part of the northern political machine Ian Cal got one of the contracts awarded by the board. The contracts were signed by the Chairman, Ricardo Martin

But despite being on the board - and certainly knowing Cal well, Garcia told us on May 5th that said she didn't know who got the contract:

(May 5, 2025)
Jules Vasquez
"Are you able to say who got the contract for securing the various airfields and aerodromes throughout the country? We know that it went live very suddenly and I am told that a preferred person has received it. Are you able to see who has that contract?"

Narda Garcia, CEO, Ministry of Civil Aviation
"No, I am not. Belize Airport Authority is the entity that gave that contract. At the time, the chairman was the one that executed that contract. And we just appointed a new board and we will have a meeting on Tuesday and we will find out."

Jules Vasquez
"But you are the CEO of all matters, you should know that? You are the CEO of Civil Aviation?"

Narda Garcia, CEO, Ministry of Civil Aviation
"Yes."

She called me later that evening to tell me who had received the contracts - saying that during the press conference she had known the name of one of the recipients but not both of them. That is when we first heard the names ISECURITY and Four Diamonds.

Their contracts were signed in December, 2024 - the BAA says it was in recognition of security risks first observed in 2023, but in April of 2025 four months later when Howell Grange went airborne with 15 souls on board - there was no security - just the wit, the courage and the bravery of the pilot and two passengers.

Today, 6 weeks later - two of them, Grange and Fitzgerald Brown are still going through physical therapy and are a long way from being ok - and one wonders if securing the aerodromes had really been the priority of the BAA when these contracts were signed - maybe life for these men would not have unalterably changed on April 17th.

We note that the original security contracts did not include any coverage for Ranchito or Punta Gorda. For that reason the contracts are now being re-negotiated - which we understand is being met with some resistance by at least one of the parties.