Belize Port Authority Denies Allegations of Irregular Charges for Fishing Tournament

The Belize Port Authority (BPA) has rejected claims of irregular practices during the departure and return of vessels participating in the Legacy of Champions International Fishing Tournament in Roatán, Honduras.

In a press release, the BPA stated that it “categorically denounces these allegations as they relate to the Belize Port Authority.” According to the Authority, all operations complied with Belizean laws and regulations.

The statement comes after Jorge Aldana, who was on one of the 9 teams that left San Pedro for the event, claimed on social media that “No Belizean should be charged to leave or enter the country by a private Belizean-registered vessel… Yet when we go to compete in fishing tournaments in Mexico or Honduras, we are charged $100 by Immigration Department officials, $100 by public health officer, $100 by BAHA officers and $100 by Port Authority officials.”

Aldana called the charges “unfair, unacceptable, illegal and a corrupt scheme run by these public officers on Ambergris Caye.”

BPA asserted that the vessel’s master applied to depart from San Pedro on September 9, 2025, providing all required documentation, including the crew list identifying Jorge Aldana. The BPA verified the documents and issued a formal Departure Clearance (No. 018504). Applicable fees were collected, and a receipt (No. 122794) was issued.

It added that upon the vessel’s return on September 16, BPA officers conducted mandatory ‘Boarding for Entry’ formalities. The boarding form (No. 013342) was signed by both the officer and the master. Entry fees were collected with receipt No. 123363, according to BPA.

The Authority warned that it does not condone irregular activities and “rejects and denounces any such accusations made against our officers without evidence.”

News 5 reached out to Aldana, who stated that he will “not be going back and forth” with the BPA on the issue. He said this is not a recent issue but rather one that has been going on for years.