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[belizeculture]

Tourists traveling to Belize, even if it is merely for a few hours off the cruise ships, need to be aware that local authorities frequently set up visitors on minor charges - and the experience can be a brutal one as reported by Channel 7:

There was quite an uproar at the Tourism Village this afternoon - when a female tourist was reportedly busted with a stick of marijuana. It's an increasingly common occurrence, but what made this one very different is that the female reportedly tried to swallow the stick and - right there on the street - in plain view of the very vocal vendors - the police reportedly tried to force her to cough it up.

That caused quite a commotion and a ruckus.

"Confirm reports state how they saw the black American lady buying the stick of weed from somebody, I don't know from whom, I didn't see all of that. Jules, by the time the lady got here - it's wrong Jules, for one little stick of weed. It's wrong for the policeman to beat up a woman and manhandle her like that."

Vendor: "They were asking the lady about some weed, because the lady swallowed the weed. The police grabbed her fling her down on the ground and they threw her into the blue wall over there. And when they fling her into the wall they choked her and when they choked her it was for her to bring up whatever they thought she had swallowed. And when they finished choking her the continued pulling her clothes pushing and burst her nose, because her nose was bleeding. It's not right because if I go to their country I don't want their police or their government to do me those things, and I am a tourist in their country." See story on TV 7 here.

Poyner was later taken to court to answer a slew of charges levied by the Belize Cops. The charges included Resisting Arrest, Obstruction of Justice and Harm against Police Constable Yadira Jones. Magistrate Roberto Ordonez convicted the 41 year old American businesswoman of Obstructing Justice and fined her $250. But Poyner was unable to pay the fine and go on her way as the court cashier had already left for the weekend. Poyner was sent to prison for a weekend, definitely not in paradise. Ms. Poyner is expected to fine another way home as her ship has already sailed.