The story has made national headlines in the US - and has resulted in a growing number of cancellations by tourists who had bookings in Belize. They fear for their personal safety and that of their families.
And that's because the attack happened in broad daylight on the open water - a place where many visitors find themselves sport fishing, snorkeling or scuba diving.
The economic effect has made it a matter of national urgency and, yesterday, the National Security Council chaired by Prime Minister Barrow, quote, "met in special session…to discuss the crisis arising out of the recent murder of a tourist, Dr. Gary Swank."
A release says, quote, "The NSC recorded its grave concern over the tragic development and its implications particularly for the tourism industry in Ambergris Caye and nationally…It also noted that there was no targeting of the tourist and that his murder was made even more tragic by the fact that he was an innocent victim of a dispute between his tour guide and the murderer."
The release goes on to discuss immediate security measures that are being put into place to ensure greater safety on San Pedro. That is led by what you heard last night, a quick recruitment of 12 special constables to man checkpoints on the northern part of the island - where drug gangs are active.
Here's how Commissioner Williams described it at Wednesday night's town meeting in San Pedro:..
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Well with the 12 special constables to be employed and I wold hope that we can get people from San Pedro to be employed within the tourism police sector. What we will do, we will take the booth at San Mateo and the booth will be given to tourism police unit and the 12 officers will operate from the San Mateo booth. They will be working on a 2 shift system from 6am until 12 midnight. At that location we are going to establish a permanent checkpoint. Those officers to be employed will be use specifically to patrol north Ambergris Caye. So they will patrol from the north of the Sir Barry Bowen bridge to the farthest distance in the north, I think secret beach or whatever the area is. I have also directed that we will establish a permanent checkpoint at that location and so the officers there will be conducting searches of persons and vehicles and motorcycles that goes over that side and upon their return. I know that it is going to cause some inconvenience to law abiding citizens, but I am sure that you will understand the need for it."
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