Benque Resident Files Nuisance Complaint Against Local Marching Band

With Belize’s Bandfest less than a month away, marching bands across the country are practicing and getting geared up to travel west for this year’s event.  The host-town for this year’s event is Benque Viejo del Carmen Town, but there are some issues tonight as one resident, Nicholasito Ruiz has filed a complaint in the courts against the town’s marching band.  Ruiz is citing the band as a nuisance, claiming that they are unable to enjoy their home when the band practices in the park near his Church Street home.  Earlier today, Love News spoke with the town’s Mayor, Jorge Rosalez, on the matter.  

Jorge Rodriguez, Mayor of Benque Viejo Town: “On my side it doesn’t hurt me because I’m not living around the place but I don’t see it why the band will be taken to court. It’s very annoying to hear this kind of thing that one ex Mayor that used to support this band is against the band now something is wrong right there. And really it’s just three hours. On the past administration that I was holding together with administration Pinelo we went to the police station where we talked to Mr.Nicholas Ruiz, myself, Mr. Pinelo, Mr.Mejia, the OC in charge deputy in charge at that time and the DOE and we went to reach to an arrangement that the band would be playing from 3 to 6 at the Centennial Park. That was the arrangement and they would be moving every once in a while from point A to point B but you know sometimes the finances are not there and so they have to stay where they are and where the Centennial Park is right now is where they have their storage room is across the street so that’s why they just take their instruments and they play right there but really I don’t know why this gentleman, the ex Mayor of Benque Nicholas Ruiz is trying to carry it looks very very I don’t know what to say this guy is something else, this person is something else trying to attack a band that has been bringing Benque Viejo to the higher race and being a champion. I am proud of the band. I will consider it not noise pollution. It will be a disgrace to have all these kids on drugs on the streets than having them play in a band. So that’s how I put it and if I have to go and witness at the court I will do it myself go and defend the band.”

The defendants in the case are Hugo Obando and Guadalupe Nabet.  Bandfest 2024 is set for Saturday, June 29.