San Pedro Town Council Good Friday Controversy with Police
There is a standoff tonight between the San Pedro Police Department and the San Pedro Town Council over the sale of alcohol on Good Friday. The Town Council has advised business establishments that they can resume selling alcohol as of nine o’clock on Friday night. But that does not sit well with the officer commanding the San Pedro Police Formation, Assistant Superintendent Vienie Robinson, who says it’s against the law. The O.C. contends that as far as the law is concerned, Good Friday ends at midnight and there is no provision that allows for the sale of alcohol before that time. Robinson warned that the police will be conducting sting operations with spontaneous spot checks and that if any establishment is caught breaking the law, it will be shut down immediately. The business owners, according to Robinson, will also be detained for the weekend pending charges on Tuesday. San Pedro Mayor, Daniel Guerrero, says that the council got permission from Minister of Tourism and Area Representative Manuel Heredia to allow establishments to sell alcohol starting at nine p.m. The San Pedro Town Council maintains that the dry-law will hurt the income of establishments on the island. But no one, so far, is complaining about Easter being celebrated as a religious holiday.
Greed is a !@#$%^ .
Religion and government should be separated. Why is it that a Catholic tradition dictates secular law? Catholics should be allowed to practise what they believe and those who are not religiously inclined should be free to practise what they believe, with reason… without it affecting the rights of others. Don’t give me wrong, I do not endorse alcohol. As a matter of fact, I hate it. What I don’t agree with is the state enforcing a religious observance.
In Corozal every bar was open after 6 on good friday. And thats because we dont have Mr. Heredia to back us up. I dont think is fare for other religions to suffer for the catolics not only them but also the turist that come visit Belize for the easter vacations.
Where is Lisa Shogirl and her constitutional challenges. This statutory instrument is prima facie unconstitutional. You cannot mix religoin with the law. Those business houses which want to sell alcohol on any Christian holiday should be free to do so.
Wow, Belizeans are truly heading in the wrong direction…..I agree with the police. We ALL KNOW HOW ALCOHOL CAN CONTRIBUTE TO CRIME….Yet some are more concerned about money these businesses that sell alcohol, would loosing money if the are forced to shut down, omg….smh
why can’t police listen to people of the island-they have to pay double for their shops, then earn nothing as a tourism destination-Tourists are there to have a good time and police are too tunnel visioned? and to threaten lock up till Tuesday-what is it a manslaughter charge? they can’t get police bail the same night or is it abuse of their power as intimidating business owners as well?
how abusive.
There is need to post the Staturory Instrument