We begin this evening's newscast with truly stunning news: bottling
magnate Barry Bowen is dead. He was the pilot on his private plane that crashed
on San Pedro around 5:30 this evening. Reports are that the 64 year old Bowen
was flying to his home in San Pedro as he does every evening. He was along with
at least three passengers – who perished. One of them was reportedly an
employee at his Gallon Jug tourism enterprise. The plane crashed within range of the San Pedro Municipal Airport in a marshy area a fair distance south of
the airstrip. Some reports say that Bowen missed the airstrip on his approach.
At this point, no one knows what caused the crash. The plane at this time is
flipped over on its back. Kainie Manuel from the San Pedro Sun was one of the
first one the scene and just a few minutes ago she told us what she saw.
Kainie Manuel Reporting
from San Pedro,
"The latest efforts are trying to remove what has confirmed to be
five bodies from Barry Bowen's private plane. From what we have gathered,
from people close to family members, it has been said that Barry Bowen was piloting
the airplane to the island. On board with him were the manager of Gallon Jug,
one of his other business enterprises, the manager's wife along with their 
two children, a three year old and a newborn. From what we have gathered, all
five of them have perished in the plane crash that took place today, claiming
the life of Sir Barry Bowen."
Keith Swift,
"Can you describe the scene to us?"
Kainie Manuel Reporting from San Pedro,
"Well right now the rescue efforts are trying to take as much equipment
and material they can from the crash site. Like I said it is nowhere near the
residential area. It is behind what is the new building of Castillo Hardware,
near to the lagoon in a marshy area. The plane is on its back and rescue efforts
are trying to flip the plane over and remove the bodies from inside. But from 
what we see, the police and fire and traffic departments are all trying to control
the scene. It is full of people, so many people that knew Barry Bowen running
to the scene, be it co-workers, people that worked with him people, teachers
at the Island Academy."
The scale of the story is almost inestimable. Sir Barry's importance
and prominence as a businessman, developer, bottling magnate and Belizean cannot
be overstated. He was one of Belize's wealthiest men – second only
to billionaire Michael Ashcroft. His company Bowen and Bowen Bottling Works
owns Belikin Beer, Guinness Stout and Coca Cola, Fanta, Sprite and Crystal Water
bottling operations. Simply put, if you are a Belizean, or if you have visited
Belize, you consumed his products. He also diversified into shrimp production,
tourism and electricity generation.
Barry Bowen was 64 years old. He is the father of five children; four
sons and one daughter. Bowen and Bowen company was started by his father in
the 1930s. Barry Bowen bought the company from his father in 1978. He has been
flying for 40 years. The plane was a Cessna 272 with a turbine engine. Similar
to the ones used by the small airlines.
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