Coast Guard Commandant Speaks Out After Armed Attack on His Home
A top national security official is speaking out after violence hit close to home recently. While serving abroad on official duty, Coast Guard Commandant Rear Admiral Greg Soberanis got a call no husband wants to receive, his home had come under armed attack with his family inside. Now back in Belize, Soberanis says his priority was securing their safety and repairing the damage, but his concern didn’t stop there. As the investigation unfolds, he believes he has identified those behind what he describes as a cowardly and targeted attack.
Rear Admiral Greg Soberanis, Commandant, Belize Coast Guard
“I was actually overseas on an official visit when I got the call that my home was attacked. And so, of course, it caused some concern as it relates to the safety of my family, who was in the house at the time. I initially implemented some measures for the safety of my family and had to do some significant repairs to the damages that resulted from the incident. So I came back a few days later, where I interacted with my colleagues from the police department. So they were on the case and that was the initial incident that transpired. I was somewhat concerned over time because I did my groundwork and I eventually learned of who the alleged perpetrator or perpetrators were that conducted the cowardly and heinous act on my home.”
Rear Admiral Soberanis Threatened at Gunpoint, Vows Strong Action
Rear Admiral Soberanis says a man he knows approached him aggressively, issued threats, and even pulled a weapon while he sat in his official vehicle. Soberanis isn’t taking it lightly, he calls it a clear escalation and warns that he will act decisively to protect himself, his family, and his home.
Rear Admiral Greg Soberanis, Commandant, Belize Coast Guard
“On May eleventh was when I was approached by an individual, an individual that I know, in an aggressive manner, verbally throwing threats, taking pictures of me and the vehicle that I was in, my assigned vehicle. My driver was with me at the time and so this individual, when he exited his vehicle, exited his vehicle with a weapon in hand, made an attempt towards the vehicle that I was in, and then eventually returned and placed the weapon inside his vehicle. Now I take that very seriously. In my line of work, in my line of duty, once a weapon is drawn that means you’ve taken the path of war, you’re prepared to engage in a level where deadly force will be used. So, I take that very seriously. It is not an incident where I intend to have it slip or slide. Any threat against my home, any threat against my person, my family, I will take every measure to resolve and deal with that particular threat. There’s a saying that I hold on to, one where, and this is the saying, “There’s no honor in a man who is willing to defend and fight for his country and not willing to defend and fight for his home” for the safety and security of his home. I am not that man, and I will take every measure to ensure that not only is this matter dealt with, but the perpetrators are dealt with.”
While Soberanis maintains the issue is personal, News Five has learned it may be tied to an ongoing land dispute.
Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.
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