He didn't form a political party, he didn't lead a revolution, and he didn't
even write a book, but tonight we note the passing of 61-year-old Reynaldo Smith.
That's right, the man we call the Snakeman lost his battle with a terminal illness
on Sunday. Sure, Smithy may not be a national hero, or any kind of publicly sainted
figure, but in the generation of television, Smithy became a legend on the street,
a classic Belize City character. Keith Swift has more on the life and times
of the man who feared no snake.
Keith Swift Reporting,
This is the Reynaldo (Renaldo) Smith you saw numerous times on Channel 7. He
fearlessly tamed wild snakes in minutes. He was our Snakeman, Belize's authority
on snakes and whenever he was needed, Smitty was on call.
He was there the afternoon of October 19th 2004 when this 7-foot boa constrictor
was found in a backyard on Regent Street. Smitty calmly hugged the 50-pound
reptile.
Smitty,
[October 19th,2004] "You could get bite with this and you rub a little
alcohol on the bite and that will heal right up. I have gotten so many bites
from them that it doesn't even bother me again."
We took Smitty at his word. Again it was classic Smitty on call for us at Channel
7 just last month when this pink boa constrictor was found in our back yard
at mile and a half on the Western Highway. Smitty tamed the wild and angry boa
by simply putting its head into his mouth.
Smitty,
[June 2006] "Yes these don't do anything." [Putting head of
snake in his mouth]
Last week we met Smitty at his usual spot on North Front Street but Smitty
wasn't mingling with tourists. Something was wrong, something was very wrong.
He was weak, lying on this bench and was barely able to talk. Smitty was losing
a battle he began to fight in early 2005. He first us told about it in this
candid interview on November 23 of 2005.
Smitty,
[November, 2005] "I got HIV. I didn't know I had caught it until I went
to test myself. I don't see any shame in it and I cannot give anybody
like
me and you are talking, you can't get it from me."
61-year-old Smitty lost his battle with an aids related illness at 10 am on
Sunday. Though he was too weak to talk to us, last week Wednesday Smitty found
energy to deal with his pink boa constrictor that had just given birthday to
60 baby snakes. That is the last video we have of Smitty alive and it is perhaps
how the urban legend wants to be remembered, not as this weakened man on a bench
but as the Snakeman; fearless, unbroken and legendary.
Smithy died at his usual hangout on North Front Street in the presence of
his 11 year old daughter. A family member told us today that Smithy had stopped
taking his anti-retroviral medication and grew despondent over the last couple
weeks. His funeral is scheduled for Wednesday at St. Mary's Church. Anyone who
can help his family with funeral arrangements can contact them at 661-6879.