Another hotel chain is preparing to enter Roatan tourism market. All inclusive Margaritaville and Karisma Hotels announced they will begin construction on a 164 room resort expected to be completed in late 2025. The project site is on the island’s north shore, located west of Corozal and bordering Jerry Hynds coconut plantation and the sea. The announcement specifies that the hotel group will partner with Island Shipping to develop the project, whose CEO is also Jerry Hynd. Margaritaville manages over 20 lodging locations and has over 20 additional hotel projects under development.

Kissinger Dead at 100

The lifetime actor and insider’s insider, Heinz Alfred Kissinger, died at 100. This German born son of a Rabbi was a Rockefeller protégé and enjoyed a meteoric rise to influence and power in the US. Kissinger became Council on Foreign Relations member in 1956, attended numerous Cremation of Care rituals at Bohemian Grove, took part in Bilderberg Group meetings, World Economic Forum and Club of Rome sessions and was trustee at Trilateral Commission. At 46 he became a National Security Advisor and handler of President Nixon and later Ford. As such he fallowed the policy that wars and assassinations, also in Honduras, have to be waged in order to prevent other wars. Shuffling between US, China, Soviet Union, and later Russia Kissinger became the ultimate insider and messenger for the controllers.

Tragic Boat Accident

On December 8, a passenger boat capsized between Guanaja and Santa Helena. The boat left El Pichete in Guanaja with eight people on board, but capsized in rough weather. Four people died, three were rescued, and one body was not yet found. Two of deceased were US citizens.

More than Miss Universe

San Salvador hosted first Central American Miss Universe for the first time in history on November 18 and its winner was Miss Nicaragua, another first for a Central American country. The win has become a cause of consternation to Nicaraguan strongman Daniel Ortega as the winner, Sheynnis Palacios has participated in 2018 anti government protests. Palacios has become a symbol of hope for opponents of the Nicaraguan regime and has not returned to Nicaragua as of yet. The drama continues as Karen Celebertti, Miss Nicaragua pageant director for 23 years, has been pressured to retire. On November 22, Celebertti was refused entry to her native Nicaragua and her husband and son were arrested by the Nicaraguan regime. She and her family were charged with treason, conspiracy and organized crime.

In US anti-Zionism is now Anti-Semitism

On December 6 the US House of Representatives passed resolution 894 that states “clearly and firmly states that anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism.” Three-hundred-and-eleven US congressmen voted for the resolution and 14 voted against, with 92 voting “present out” of fear of retribution of their political funders. “If you would know who controls you see who you may not criticize,” wrote 2,000 years ago Roman senator and historian Tacitus. Now criticism of Israel will be punishable by law and US First Amendment protections have been made irrelevant.

New Hybur Ship

Hybur has purchased a fifth ship to keep up with the demand for cargo shipping in the Caribbean. Caribe Voyager is the Company’s new 100 meter, 3999 tone vessel built in 1995 is capable of sailing at 15 knots. Caribe Voyager sails between Florida and Grand Cayman and can carry 509 containers.

Five Die in Roatan’s Biggest Air Disaster to Date

The Roatan firemen pulled out the crash victims from the wreck, but only one, a passenger sitting with his back towards the front of the plane was still alive when rescued. Despite many attempts to save his life, the victim died at the Roatan public hospital.

While Roatan does have an emergency center at a public hospital in Coxen Hole, the island lacks a trauma center and specialists capable of stabilizing a patient with vast, or complex internal damage. “We have been fooling ourselves with thinking that we can handle an accident with multiple injured where we couldn’t deal with one,” said Dainie Etches, a Canadian warden on the island who has had assisted in dozens of incidents and mishaps that involved Canadians over the years. Etches says that the construction of the new public hospital in Dixon Cove is moving forward too slowly, and the new hospital is no guarantee that government will properly staff it and equip it. “There isn’t a single orthopedist on the island right now,” said Etches.

Piloting the plane was Patrick Forseth, a 32-year-old Canadian pilot and entrepreneur who lived in Trujillo. Forseth flew multiple times that day departing Trujillo, then flying to Roatan and to Guanaja.  A Canadian Broadcasting Corporation news news report quoted John Enman, a passenger who flew from Trujillo to Roatan that day, saying that Forseth told him during the flight  that “he had been delayed because of mechanical issues – a broken wire from the ignition to the battery, which a mechanic had fixed.”

Forseth picked up four American passengers who arrived from Houston and booked his plane for a flight to Guanaja. Those passengers were:Bradley Post, Robert Miller, Anthony Dubler and Frederick Tepel. The plane took off at 2:15 pm and flew a kilometer heading east.

Mary Russell, who was just a hundred meters from the crash site, reported hearing two backfires and a loud sound of the plane hitting the water. “It looked like there is a bit of smoke on takeoff. Take off looks hard and it [the plane] lifts slowly, then it looks like the engine stopped and almost at the same time the plane lost its lift on the left wing,” described the footage of the crash Patrice Bellemare, a Roatan Dive Shop owner. A video of crash was recorded by a security camera on a cruise ship in Mahogany Bay. Bellmare assisted with the removal of the plane from the crash site.

The incident is being investigated by Mario Carcamo, Chief of the Honduras Investigative Commission of Air Accidents and Incidents. It is not clear what caused the engine to quit, or what happened after that.

The proper technique after loss of engine power is to immediately tilt the airplane down in order to maintain speed and keep the airplane flying. “You are trained in a failure like this to go straight,” said Mike Boden, a 30-year Delta Airlines veteran pilotand Roatan resident. “Keep control is what you are doing.” Another person who was perplexed why an engine failure in these circumstances became such a fatal crash is Larry Forseth, Patrick’s father and veteran Air Canada pilot. “The situation was survivable” Larry Forseth had told the Canadian media. “It is clear that the plane had stalled out with the tail being broken like that,” said Boden. The plane’s chassis completely disintegrated suggesting a great vertical speed right before impact.

Several friends and family testified of that Patrick Forseth repeated training for loss of engine power in the past. “Patrick reacted quickly and got the plane away from a close-to-stall situation,” remembers Edil Mendez a 2018 emergency landing situation when the plane’s landing gear failed to open. “He was a friend, like a brother,” says Mendez who did several med-evac flights from Roatan with Patrick Forseth.

The reasons for engine failure and subsequent airplane flight are unclear. Not out of the question is passenger interference. In 2010 an accident investigation determined that a passenger interfered with the operating of the airplane during a flight near Vancouver Island when passenger interference caused the pilot to lose control of the aircraft, resulting in a crash and death of all four on board. FAA has no recommendations as far as placing passengers that are pilots next to the pilot. There are reports that two of the four passengers knew how to fly but were seated in the back of the plane. The pilot’s preference in small airplanes is to seat heavier passengers up front to better distribute the plane’s weight.

A barracuda is weighed in after the first day of the tournament.

Roatan Fishing Tournament Is Gaining In Popularity

Following the official registration on September 13, sixty-five boats began the three day competition. “[We had] multimillion dollar boats to local pangas with a single outboard,” said Aaron Etches, the West End boat captain of “Happy Hour”, who participated in the tournament for the 10th time. “[One of the pangas] broke down on the first day and had to be towed in”continued Etches.

Local anglers know well that there are two good marlin fishing grounds around the Bay Islands. One is about one third of the way between Utila and Roatan, the other is about three miles off the north shore of Roatan between Lawson Rock and Punta Gorda. “Ninety percent of billfish are caught there,” said Victor Jones, a local boat captain. “You hardly catch any marlin on the south side anymore.” Some bigger sports boats try their luck and rush to less frequented fishing banks 30 miles north of Utila and around Barbaretta. The places where the shelf comes out from the deep to about 600 -1000 feet are the best for catching marlin. “The deeper you get it’s more the game of chance,” said Jones. “If it’s too calm is not as good. It should have a little bit of wind blowing, current circling.”

“Mario Canahuati, Gary McLaughlin, and Chris Rosales are some of the best fishermen,” said Etches speaking about his competitors. “A lot of it comes to local knowledge of where the marlin have been biting and congregating.”

The tournament organizers awarded 500 points for Blue marlin, 300 points for White marlin and 200 points for sailfish or spearfish. Fifty bonus points were given for documented clean release of the fish. The rodeo division added points for wahoo, dolphin fish, tuna and kingfish with a weight minimum of 20 lbs.

Commenting on the first day of fishing Etches shared, “Conditions were just horrible…15-20 mile-an-hour winds, 5 foot chop. Only five fish were caught.” While weather improved over the next two days luck for “Happy Hour” didn’t change.

While most of the Roatan boats do some serious, competitive fishing, they still find a way to keep things fun. “It’s a way to get together with my buddies,” said Victor Jones, a second generation shrimp boat captain from French Harbour, who helped out on the “Ok Then” crew based in French Cay. The Hatteras class boat caught a Blue marlin on the second day of fishing and Jones filmed the catch and proper release of the hook assuring the team the full 550 points.

Shawn Engel from Utila ended up winning the competition with three caught and cleanly released Blue marlins and 1650 points. Their first marlin was caught in rough weather on Friday at 8am, giving them the early catch tie break advantage.

When the Roatan tournament first began 19 years ago there were 10-12 boats registered and now 50-60 boats register on regular basis. “It they increased the prize money to $100,000 they would get 100 boats, 150 boats easy,” said Jones. “You’d get bigger boats with more experienced crews, more notoriety for the island, more notoriety for the fishing tournament.” Jones feels that these numbers are possible within the next couple years.

While other sports fishing tournaments in Utila, Guanaja do take place from time to time, the Omoa tournament in May and the Roatan tournament in September have brought consistency and recognition to Honduras as a prime location for deep see fishing. “It’s a year-round thing. There is a group of guys who get together every couple weeks and they start a plan and coordinate. Kyle McNab, Chris Rosales, Devon McNab, Gary McLaughlin have been the heart and soul of the even and you have really seen it take off,” said Jones.

Roatan held XIX international fishing tournament with a great turnout and great fishing all around. After a windy and rough first day spirits picked up and wweather improved. ‘Ok then’ crew caught a blue Marlin for 550 points: Victor Jones, Kurbito Warren, Jerrito Hynds, Byron Dixon, Vincent Bush.

Five Fishketeers

Roatan held its XIX International Fishing Tournament with a great turnout and great fishing all around. After a windy and rough first day spirits picked up and weather improved. ‘Ok Then’ crew caught a blue Marlin for 550 points: Victor Jones, Kurbito Warren, Jerrito Hynds, Byron Dixon, Vincent Bush.

USCGC Eagle flies her flag at Port of Roatan.

Biggest Sailing Ship to Date Visits Roatan

On June 29, USCGC Eagle, a US coast guard school ship docked at Port of Roatan and flew her banner. For two days Eagle turned into a floating museum hosting hundreds of Roatanians touring it’s deck and receiving a lesson in vessel’s history.

On Roatan the Eagle’s crew and cadets got a break from their sailing routine and got to do a bit of diving, snorkeling, zip lining, and shopping. “This was actually Eagle’s first visit to Honduras and Roatan (…) I can scarcely believe that none of my predecessors would have visited. Their loss,” wrote Matt Meilstrup, Eagle’s Commanding Officer. “We also had very productive meetings with the Honduran armed forces and government, especially Navy and Merchant Marine.”

The 295’ training cutter is the only active sailing ship in US military service. She dates back seven generations of ships to 1792 when US coast guard used its first ship – ‘Revenue Cutter Eagle.’ The Eagle was originally christened Horst Wessel in Hamburg in 1936, after a Nazi hero, in the presence of Adolf Hitler. She trained German sailors until WWII broke out and in 1942 she was armed and patrolled Baltic Sea. After the defeat of Germany, Horst Wessel was won by the United States in a drawing of lots with the Soviet and British navies and given to the US Coast Guard. Since 1946 every single new US cadet undergoing officer training has begun his or her career by learning to traverse the seas the old way, by trimming sails and scrubbing the decks.

The Eagle has almost 10 kilometers of running rigging and 2,070 square meter of sail area. Her hull is made of 3” teak wood laid with 1” steel. For an octogenarian, the Eagle is in great shape and there are no plans to retire it.

The New London, Connecticut based Eagle goes out on voyages lasting up to two months. It performs a public relations duty for the US Coast Guard as it offers training to cadets and officer candidates. USCGC Eagle recently underwent renovations including repairs to portions of her hull, upgrades to the berthing areas, installation of a new radar, and inspection of her masts. “That work is expected to add an additional 15 years of service life though, if my past experience is any guide, that will be stretched much longer,” wrote Captain Meilstrup. “ The ship is in fantastic material condition.” On July 2 Eagle departed Roatan for Cartagena, Colombia, to Curacao and then onto Miami.

Six Cubans with their vessel on the reef in front of Fantasy Island. (photo by Gringo Divemaster)

MS Armonia at the scene of the incident. (Photo by Ana Svoboda)

Roatan has its Biggest Maritime Accident to Date

The ship ended up with a gaping hole and the 205 meter long dock is now 170 meters. Two mooring dolphins and a walkway were destroyed.

According to Elmer Cruz, owner of the Agencia Naviera del Caribe, representing cruise ships arriving in Roatan, several Roatan hotels and Americans on the island contacted Anacaribe with offers to host passengers injured in the collision. But, since no injuries were reported and MSC Armonia has more cabins than Roatan has hotel rooms, the offer was not taken.

Within hours an investigation was initiated, gathering representatives from the Honduran Ports Authority, Port of Roatan, insurance agencies, the ships agent, and Carlo Aiello, the Italian captain of the MSC Armonia. Also within hours, the crew of the cruise ship began to repair the gaping hole in the ship’s hull. They purchased some repair supplies from Serrano’s Hardware and welded steel plates onto the hull. 17 hours after the accident, at 2:30 am, they were on their way to Belize.

Since we have been working in 1997 it’s the first time that a boat has hit a dock

While Roatan got plenty of play on FOX and CNN, two cruise ships: Liberty of the Seas and Getaway, cancelled their visit to Roatan. “They didn’t know the damage to the pier, so they decided just to play it safe,” said Cruz. “Since we have been working in 1997 it’s the first time that a boat has hit a dock,” said Cruz.

The conclusion from the investigation is pending, but that hasn’t stopped a local band from Roatan, ‘Jhaytea and Don Mark,’ from rendering their own verdict in the form of new song lyrics: “They say the captain was drinking Jack Daniels. (…) Drinking Ice and Tatascan.” Human error is more likely the culprit.

Nic Bach, Coordinator of Marine Infrastructure at Roatan Marine Park, dived the site of the incident the fallowing day looking for damage to coral that still surrounds the port of Roatan, but has seen no damage done by the Armonia. “Years of cruise ships there smothered the coral. Most of the coral in the vicinity of the cruise ship dock is already gone,” said Bach.

Kester Bodden, Deputy Director Port of Roatan, the construction on the second pier at the Port of Roatan is due to begin in September and last for 18 months. The repairs to the damaged existing dock are likely to coincide.

MSC Armonia is a cruise ship that was built in 2001 for the now defunct Festival Cruises as MS European Vision. It is based in Havana, Cuba and offers a week long cruises in Western Caribbean. Captain Carlo Aiello was relieved of his duties upon returning to Havana and was transferred to MSC Opera to Master position.

Roatan fire fighters practice high point ladder rescue from a multi store building.

Roatan Bomberos Improve their Skills

Brent Fulmek and Phillip Tufford from Grande Praire Fire Deparment were teaching the Roatanians high point ladder rescue techniques. “Even when we train them we learn from them. They are very skilled,” said Kris Robins, a Roatan resident who coordinated the training, about the Roatan firefighters. Eight years ago Robins and Joe Petterkind began bringing in firefighters from the Grande Praire, Alberta fire department to teach Roatan firefighters.

This cooperation saved many lives on the island. “We’ve learned to extract people from vehicles,” said sergeant Edil Lanza, a 12-year veteran of the Roatan firefighters. Roatan firefighters saved more lives by properly and safely extracting people from crushed vehicles than in any other way. “We often use one ‘jaws of life,’ and it’s in great shape,” said Lanza.

Roatan offers plenty of other challenges to firefighters. According to Lanza some of the more complicated fires of the last two years were at the dump. “It took us a week to get the first out, and there were four more after that,” said Lanza.

Roatan Municipality has 22 firefighters with 19 on Municipal salaries and the other three paid by the central government. There is an additional station and nine more firefighters in Santo Guardiola.

Roatan firefighters will soon have an additional valuable piece of equipment. According to Tufford a pump truck will soon be on its way from Alberta to Roatan, paid for Grande Praire Roatary Club. “The truck has been refurbished and is in great shape,” said Tufford.

A Sailboat Hits the Reef, Sinks

Bad Weather, exhaustion, miscommunication and tricky entrance to Brick Bay made for a disastrous end to the American sailboat ‘Scarlett’ on January 22. The 40 foot Canada Sailcraft built in 1987 was captained by Skipper Ricardo Druillet with his hand Robert Ader of Miami. After departing Colon, Panama two days earlier and heading for Jamaica, the sailors battled tough weather and 10 foot seas and decided to reroute their journey for Roatan.
The sailors booked a slot at the Barefoot Cay marina, but Adler wrote that they were advised to “anchor outside the channel,” as the boat arrived at 2am. “We offer guidance through the channel entrance 8am to 4pm every day,” wrote Gary Lewis, the General Manager at Barefoot Cay, the largest Roatan marina that hosted over 100 boats in 2017.

My depth finder indicated 30 foot depth and we dropped the anchor,” said Druillet. “Then we got swung around onto the reef.” ‘Scarlett’ ended up on top of the reef just west of Brick Bay channel entrance, in knee high water.

“My depth finder indicated 30 foot depth and we dropped the anchor,” said Druillet. “Then we got swung around onto the reef.” ‘Scarlett’ ended up on top of the reef just west of Brick Bay channel entrance, in knee high water. “There was deeper water inside the boat than out,” said Ader about the couple abandoning the boat at night.

“This is the worse marked entrance [to a harbor] I’ve seen,” said Druillet about the entrance to Brick Bay harbor. Druillet visited dozens of harbors in Mexico and Central America on his “dream trip” which he begun with his wife and son in San Francisco and which took him south to Panama and eventually to Roatan.

According to Nic Bach of Roatan Marine Park [RMP] however, “new channel markers with solar beacons in Brick Bay” were installed about a year ago at a cost of $1,800 provided by Island Shipping. Bach wrote that over the years RMP has placed 90 channel and demarcation markers around Roatan and ZOLITUR is planning to fund another 70 to mark every channel around the island.

While Shawn Hyde negotiated with the San Diego insurance company about the salvaging cost of ‘Scarlett,’ someone boarded the distressed vessel and took much of its equipment. “They took the solar panels, they took everything. Absolutely everything,” said Ader.

Druillet said he purchased the boat for $54,000 and spent additional $40,000 improving it. “Now it’s a total loss and its insured for $65,000,” the skipper said. Druillet, originally from Uruguay, says he has been sailing since the age of 11 and that his grandfather was a founder of “El Yacht Club Uruguayo.”

Salvage master Eulalio ‘Lalo’ Suazo attempted to salvage ‘Scarlett’ on January 25 and 26, but the boat, took on water and sunk in 500 feet of water about 300 meters from the channel.

Brick Bay has claimed its share of unlucky boats over the years. “We did three salvage operations in the last four years in Brick Bay,” said Hyde. “In 2015 a boat was on the way to Barefoot Cay, and complained that its electronic charts were off by 30 feet and it ended up on the reef.”