BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Mar. 12, 2020– Funeral services were held on Friday for Major Radford Baizar, 35, an elite helicopter instructor and an aircraft captain in the Air Wing of the Belize Defence Force, who was the father of two children. He was one of four crew members who were in a BDF helicopter that was involved in a drug operation last Wednesday in support of police.

The helicopter crashed into the lagoon near Gales Point, Manatee, killing all four crew members — Major Adran Ramirez of Corozal Town; Major Radford Baizar of Belize City; Corporal Yassir Mendez of Douglas, Orange Walk District; and Corporal Reynaldo Choco of Big Falls, Toledo.

On Tuesday, March 10, a preliminary report into the deadly crash indicated that the cause of the deadly crash was due to a number of factors, including pilot error, lack of night vision and spatial disorientation. The preliminary report said there was no mechanical failure found in the chopper.

The men have all been hailed as heroes; they died in the line of duty and flags were flown at half-mast on all Government buildings and all military and police installations for a week to honor the fallen soldiers.

Funerals for the crew members began on Tuesday in their respective hometowns, and today, Major Baizar was buried at the Homeland Memorial Cemetery at Mile 8 on the George Price Highway, with full military honors, including the volley of shots and the blowing of the Last Post, which is blown in the burial of dignitaries and the military.

Major Baizar’s funeral services were held at 2:00 Friday afternoon at St. John’s Cathedral on Albert Street. Bishop Philip Wright of the Anglican Church was the chief celebrant. The service was attended by a large crowd that completely filled the church; many mourners who could not be accommodated inside the church, gathered outside.

After the funeral service concluded, a military parade proceeded from the church down Albert Street, Orange Street, and Cemetery Road. At the Uno Gas Station at the junction of Central American Boulevard and Cemetery Road, mourners got into buses and other vehicles, and from there they proceeded to Homeland Cemetery for the interment of the military hero.

After the Last Post, the Belize flag that draped Major Baizar’s coffin was handed over to his family, a symbol that he served his country well, and wreaths were laid in his tomb. Wreaths were laid on the tomb by Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams; Commandant of the Coast Guard, Elton Bennett; and the Chargé d’Affaires of the American Embassy in Belize, among others.

Major Baizar is the last of the four crew members who died in the helicopter crash to be buried.

Along with the many dignitaries who attended the funeral, were soldiers of the BDF, officers of the Police Department, sailors of the Belize Coast Guard and members of other uniformed services, including the Belize Prison Service and the National Fire Service.

Major Baizar was remembered by his cousin and friend, Major Kenrick Martinez. Major Martinez said that Baizar had first wanted to be an electrician, but after he felt the jolt of a minor shock, he changed his mind and decided to be a pilot.

He joined the ranks of the Belize Defence Force and after recruit training, went abroad to Officers training school and was posted to the BDF Air Wing on his return. He attended various pilot courses and when the Belize Defence Force was gifted with helicopters by Taiwan, he was selected to attend a training course for piloting helicopters, a course in which he again did exceptionally well.

Major Martinez said that Baizar was selected to attend the Helicopter Pilot Instructors Course, and again proved that he was the best, gaining top honors. Baizar was then chartered to train pilots to fly helicopters. He attended an air safety course last June, and again excelled. At the time of his death, Major Baizar was the only helicopter pilot instructor in the country. He also had received certification as a plane captain.

Major Martinez said that Baizar was confident and ambitious, but humble. He said that Baizar had a passion for flying, and he was well-liked by his colleagues, not least because he had a great sense of humor.

Presently, the BDF’s Air Wing has been severely impacted by the death of the crew. Major Ramirez was the Commander of the Air Wing and his deputy was Major Baizar. Corporal Choco and Corporal Mendez were well-trained aircraft technicians. All crew members were buried with military honors and remembered.

The first to be buried was Corporal Yassir Mendez. He was a husband and the father of two children. He was buried on Tuesday evening in his home village of Douglas, Orange Walk District. The funeral service was conducted at the Lady of Fatima Roman Catholic Church in Douglas.

During the ceremony, he was remembered by Captain Kenroy Smith of the Air Wing. Smith said that Mendez was selfless, and made sacrifices to improve the Helicopter Unit of the Air Wing. He offered his time, knowledge and skills to improve the unit and his contribution was significant. He attended many courses and he was an engineer. His father is Warrant Officer Class 1 (WO1) Cornelius Mendez, retired Force Sergeant Major, who said that he encouraged his son to join the BDF and was proud of him.

After the ceremony, the fallen soldier was escorted to the Douglas Village Cemetery, during which the Firing Party performed solemn Funeral Drills. At the cemetery, a volley of shots were fired and the Last Post blown, and the flag that draped his coffin was handed over to his family, symbolizing that he served his country well.

Attending the funeral was the Minister of Defence, and Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte, high-ranking police and military officials, officials from the Coast Guard and BDF Air Wing, and civil organizations.

The second crew member to be buried was Corporal Reynaldo Choco, 30, of Big Falls, Toledo District. The funeral was held on Wednesday, March 4. It was attended by officials of the police and military and officials from the Ministry of Defence, including Minister Michael Peyrefitte.

Also attending the funeral were his family and the villagers. He was remembered by Captain Kenroy Smith. In remembering Choco, Captain Smith said that Choco loved flying. He was dedicated to his job as an aircraft technician and was a member of the engineering group, and dedicated his time to helping to develop the Helicopter Unit of the BDF, and was always willing to go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure success.

His relative said that he touched many lives, and that he will be greatly missed.

After the funeral ceremony, Corporal Choco was escorted out of the church and taken to the Big Falls Cemetery, during which the Firing Party and escorts performed solemn funeral drills.

At the cemetery, a volley of shots was fired and the Last Post was blown, after which the Belize Flag was handed over to the family. Wreaths were laid on the tomb by various entities and Jasmin Choco, his wife, laid the family wreath on his tomb.

The third crew member to be buried was Major Adran Ramrez, of Corozal Town, Commander of Belize Defence Force Air Wing. He was buried on Thursday. The funeral was well attended by residents, relatives and ranking officers from the Ministry of Defence, police, military officials and ranking officers from uniformed and civilian services.

Also attending the funeral were ranking officers of the Coast Guard, the Air Wing, Prison Services and other organizations. In remembering Major Ramirez, his friend and colleague, Captain Usher of Air Wing said that Major Ramirez emphasized personal, professional and administrative development, and always reminded his subordinates to be ready to take over the Air Wing when he hands it over to them.

He led by example, believing in the core value, “Service before Self,’ and he lived this value. Colonel Brandon Garcia, in speaking to the attendees, said that the presence of the Ministry of National Security and attendees of various security forces and other uniformed organization acknowledged his sacrifice.

His brother said that from when he was young, Adran wanted to be a pilot. He attended many courses and became a pilot, his dream. At the time when he was given his wings, designating him a pilot, he was so happy that his dreams came through, and he was full of pride. He loves his country, he loves the Belize Defence Force, and he loved the Air Wing.

His children and family meant the world to him. He advocated training for his subordinates for improvement and development. He believed in his subordinates and pushed them to achieve more, and to improve.

At the end of the funeral ceremony, Major Ramirez was escorted out of the church and taken to the hearst, after which the mourners went to the Corozal Town Cemetery, where a volley of shots were fired and the Last Post blown. Wreaths were laid on his tomb afterwards, the flag was presented to the family as a sign of the great service he had done for his country.

Feature photo: (l-r) Major Radford Baizar and Major Kenrick Martinez