_{Photo: Khalil Alexander Hewlett, deceased}

by Kristen Ku

BELIZE CITY, Mon. Apr. 8, 2024

An accident while working at the Santander Sugar Refinery on Saturday morning, April 6, has claimed the life of 34-year-old Khalil Alexander Hewlett.

According to reports, sometime before 10:00 a.m., Hewlett was working at the refinery, near the conveyor belt, when he apparently slipped, and this led to his sustaining a fatal head injury.

Despite being called to identify Hewlett’s body, immediate police presence prohibited his family from viewing their loved one.

It was only later at the morgue that the family could see the extent of Hewlett’s injuries, which included significant facial damage and bleeding.

The family’s grief is worsened by unanswered questions surrounding Hewlett’s death. Hewlett was an employee at Santander for 5 years and a resident of Teakettle Village.

This latest incident marks the second fatality at the refinery this year. Back in February, 53-year-old Anastacio Vasquez was crushed to death by a falling steel cage.