I arrived on Feb 28 and the weather was perfect for me to conduct my hydrographic survey. I have not worked in 2 months so I was ready immediately to fly and make my maps. We surveyed an area called the blue hole which is a natural crater or cenote off the coast of Belize. This is a popular dive spot but also a good area to hide submarines since it is nearly bottomless and connects to a number of cave systems leading inland. The survey has been perfect so far as the weather until this point has been wonderful. Belize is well known for its natural trade winds that keep it at a relative temperature between 60-100 all year long. The winds are strong here and felt in the aircraft as well as on ground.
The political situation seems un natural. The ambassador decided to go against the trial system and place fear into society by sending masked men, from an unknown source, armed with Uzis to kill anyone they see at checkpoints. They seem sophisticated enough that I would say they are a special elite force or cartel. The people here are angry because no one knows who or where these masked men came from. For the most part people live in fear and stay indoors most of the time unless they are holding a legitimate job. The roadblocks are scattered, but in well defined areas since there are only so many bridges out of the country. I pass them on my way to work and dead bodies sometimes lay in the ditch. We have not been bothered since the ambassador knows who we are and our vehicles are well defined. We must be doing a favor for the country that keeps us from being inspected.
The election starts tomorrow and I have heard rumors of mad riots and violence throughout the city so I'll keep myself in my plane or in my hotel. If there is a civil uprising in the city while I am flying I have been told to find an alternate route to either Cozumel Mexico or an island off the coast of Honduras until the people have settled.