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When our team arrived at the mouth of the road leading to Tower Hill just before 4pm, cane fields were burning, gunshots were firing and the mood was incredulous and outraged. Just prior to our arrival, about seven farmers hijacked a tractavator and went at the Core Sampler. Police tackled them and then detained them. Their friends went to their rescue and that's when anarchy ensued.

Damien Gough, Witness
"We at BSI were informed there was a little eruption taking place out at the core sampler. Apparently a pickup filled with about six or so cane farmers showed up, a confrontation ensued between them and the police. The cane farmers were found to have, I think, some machetes with them and the police tried to take control of the situation, threw some of them to the ground and handcuffed them and tied them up. I understand they even fired even a couple of warning shots to get control of the situation.

But what that incident did was provoke the situation because from there all the cane farmers that were down at the Toll Bridge packed up in their vehicles and started speeding towards BSI. And now as you can see, at the entrance of the BSI compound itself, at the intersection, they managed to get control of one of the tractavators and are actually pushing the barriers back and police are actually firing back at them. Whether it is live rounds or rubber pellets, I don't know yet. But there is actually an exchange of rock hurling and gunshots firing between the cane farmers and the police that are out here."

Man #1,
"They took a cane farmer and they started to beat him. The crowd didn't want that. The cane farmers want peace but the way the government is doing this. It is not fair for us. We are Belizeans and if we have to die here we will."

And the treason for that outrage was visible as the injured were brought out with gunshot injuries. Some of them were bleeding, unable to walk and – others had visible bullet wounds.

Man #2,
"They shoot everyone. They didn't have to go on like that. They shoot my friend here. We just wanted to make things clear. We just went there because they arrested a man there and they didn't need to arrest no one. They shoot like seven people. They took them to the hospital. That is not fair though."

[Man Talking in Spanish and holding expended bullet shells.]

Man #3,
"We came to defend him and the police with real bullets."

Keith Swift,
The Prime Minister has said that by 4 pm you guys need to go home. Will you do that?

Man #3,
"No because they started the real trouble so we are going to stay and some of our friends are going to get there. This Prime Minister is not looking after his people. So we have to remove this because nobody is defending us. So we have to take our own decision."

One of the men hurt was fatally injured. He has been identified as Anastacio Gutierrez, a 44 year old cane farmer.

Father,
[Translated] "He got shot in his face. They are saying that the bullet entered his face and came out the next side and he died. A pickup carried him to the hospital. He had no gun and he was without a gun."

Attorney Michael Peyrefitte witnessed the shooting death.

Michael Peyrefitte, Attorney
"Today I saw a man get shot in the head right in front of me. He fell on the ground immediately, we took him to the hospital, he was dead. He died instantly and it is totally unnecessary for this to happen. The cane farmers would better know what the situation is as it pertains to the conflict between them and the police. But I saw another Belizean die today and I am saddened by that."

Shortly after the fatal shooting, Magana along with attorney Michael Peyrefitte drove into the BSI compound to check on the status of the detained farmers. But the loss of life prompted an executive concession and Magana returned.

Carlos Magana,
"That the core sampler will not be used for the rest of this year."

Keith Swift,
I thought the farmers had already rejected that and they wanted it gone forever.

Carlos Magana,
"Well at least it can give us a little relief at this point due to the way the mob is. At this point they are accepting it. What they are saying is if we can release the individuals that are in there."

And while Magana and Peyrefitte drove into the BSI Compound to negotiate the release, the farmers lit tires on fire on the road leading to BSI. It was their last stand as most scattered. We are told trucks cleared the bridge shortly after and the riot squad made an appearance as they pushed the crowd into Orange Walk.