BELIZE CITY, Thurs. July 26, 2018– According to Assistant Superintendent of Police, Alejandro Cowo, disputes between taximen aren’t unheard of, especially at the taxi stand near Ocean Ferry Water Taxi on North Front Street. Cowo said there’s a constant battle for taxi jobs at the stand.

Unfortunately, on Tuesday, one of these arguments escalated into a chopping incident that resulted in the wounding of Gerald Lewis, 58.

Lewis survived the attack, and had sufficiently recovered to make a police report today. Lewis said he and another taximan, Cecil Buckley, 40, got into an argument at the taxi stand on North Front Street around 3:30 Tuesday afternoon, concerning a taxi run to the airport, which costs customers around $25US.

In the midst of the argument, Buckley went to his car and pulled out a machete. He then chopped Lewis three times on his body and his hand.

Lewis was taken to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where he was treated and released. As of this afternoon, he was still in the process of giving his statement.

Since Lewis has just come forward, police have yet to determine the list of charges that will be levied against Buckley. Cowo said that one of the charges, however, will definitely be aggravated assault because of the use of the machete.