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Local dancer drowns in PG

GeneralLocal dancer drowns in PG

by Charles Gladden

CATTLE LANDING, Toledo District, Thurs. Sept. 22, 2022

What was to have been an enjoyable fishing trip off the coast of Cattle Landing Village in the Toledo District, became tragic when the makeshift raft on which Jamire Borland, 24, was sitting, overturned—causing him to drown.

Initial police investigations have revealed that when the incident occurred, Borland was with his brother and a close friend of theirs one mile off the coast on a makeshift raft that they had made by joining two kayaks, onto which they had fastened pieces of lumber. Unfortunately, the raft capsized, and all three young men fell into the water, but the friend who was with the two Borland brothers was only able to rescue one of them, and Jamire lost his life.

On Tuesday, September 20, the communications director for the Belize Police Department, ASP Fitzroy Yearwood, told local reporters that the incident has been ruled to be drowning by accident.

Numerous expressions of grief were posted on social media by relatives and friends of Borland, as well as by members of the dancing community, who have described Borland as a promising dancee and as humble, willing to learn and collaborate with others, and full of life.

Joseph Stamp Romero told local reporters, “I remember meeting him in Punta Gorda when I first recruited him to be part of the dance show here in the city, and his enthusiasm and just the way he carried himself as a person, [and] his mannerism, was always humbling. Jamire was always one who would help to collaborate, to inspire. As young as he was, he spoke his mind when it comes to how he thought we should work with young people. I think that he was somebody that people always liked. I am going to remember him as somebody who always tried to find his way on the stage.”

Borland’s body was taken to the Punta Gorda Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Borland was employed at the Belize Bank’s Punta Gorda branch and was the father of a 4-month-old girl.

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