74 Persons Arrested for Breaking Curfew

The state of emergency came into effect on April first and by Thursday night, the streets of the City and around the country were virtually empty of people and there was very little vehicular traffic. Police was on the ground and by Friday morning, seventy-four persons had been arrested and charged as enforcement of the measures of state of emergency took place.  The breakdown is as follows: thirty-five were charged with breach of curfew, fifteen for being unable to provide reason for movement outside curfew and five for failure to comply with restriction of movement outside of the curfew hours. In respect of the charge of failure to comply with curfew orders, twelve people were charged. One person is also facing charges for keeping establishment open when required to be closed and two others with wandering about without a valid reason and another person is failing to comply with quarantine measures. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams told the press today that arrests will continue on violators of the measures.

Chester Williams

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“It seems like some of us Belizeans don’t take heed and we done take nothing seriously. But as the Attorney General said, persons who violated the regulations and primarily the curfew regulations will be arrested and charged. So there were a number of persons who were out last night despite the fact that they were warned. We are not going to be warning no more but rather we will be making arrests. While we were able to give bail to some last night some remain in custody and were taken to court this morning but again we ensure that we maintain the social distance with those who were kept in custody with a view to ensure that there was no close contact with them  while they were in the cell block. I was disappointed in Belize City because again I live in Belize City and I saw a number of persons out last night after the curfew and I think Belize City only had like ten arrests. I saw to the commander today that I need to see better tomorrow morning. Dangriga did well. I think Dangriga had twenty three arrests.”