Audrey Matura-Shepherd – since May of 2009, she's become known as the face of OCEANA in Belize. As the Vice President of OCEANA in Belize and not one to shy from the cameras or any sensitive issue, she's made the Environmental group a household name in Belize. But, tonight, there are unconfirmed but credible reports that Matura-Shepherd will be announcing her resignation - as early as tomorrow. What's the cause of the sudden and unexpected move? Well, it could be a facebook fight over gay rights.
The first clue came in her weekly column in the Amandala on Friday, which was titled ""Cowered into Silence."
In it Matura-Shepherd describes an attempt by what she describes as a segment of the homosexual lobby to silence her.
That's after, in a previous edition of the newspaper, she speculated that the UNIBAM claim could have a domino effect and see other groups, for instance those that practice bestiality, push for their rights.
It's an extreme comparison and it caught the eye of UNIBAM Attorney and social media doyen Lisa Shoman who queried on Facebook if Matura-Shepherd's views are those of Oceana's principals in Washington.
And then, one Kenrick Raymark Theus Diaz wrote those principals in Washington trying to get her fired. He wrote to her CEO saying that Matura-Shepherd crudely compared homosexuality to bestiality and asked quote, "I implore your corrective measures to this holy mess created by a person purporting to represent your organization locally" end quote.
Since then Matura-Shepherd has reportedly told those close to her that she may seek to distance herself from the organization so as not to cast any adverse light on the good work they are doing to protect the Oceans. We could not reach her for comment this evening. We will keep following the story.
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