“The Maul” for Contrabandistas, Warns Godwin

Godwin Hulse

Earlier this month, the Government of Belize agreed with its Mexican counterpart to close the old border crossing at Subteniente Lopez entering Chetumal. A new, larger crossing is open at Chactemal Bridge. However, the vendors who were sneaking over goods from the Commercial Free Zone are up in arms. That is tough luck for them, according to Minister of Agriculture and Immigration Senator Godwin Hulse. He made the point that while people crossing are one thing, anything that could damage Belize’s agriculture profile would simply not be tolerated. That also applies to La Union, Botes and similar crossings down the Rio Hondo, which were intended to be only for local village consumption but have evolved into big business for contrabandists. Hulse said his Ministries will not encourage contraband by establishing any official presence anywhere other than at the major border points.

Godwin Hulse, Minister of Agriculture

“La Union is down the road; there are those who want to continue to bring things across the border who are not inspected – they call it contraband. And they think that this is a good thing to do because they make a few bucks; well, it’s the worst thing to do, because you may destroy industries that hire a lot of people and that creates a lot of foreign exchange, etcetera. So this Government and this Minister is going to bring the maul – not the hammer – bring the maul down on your head if you are caught, so the thing to do is not do it – that is the thing to do. And the thing not to do is to call any of my colleagues, because they will not help you. There is only one crossing, you know, and that is the crossing at the new bridge that has the spray station, etcetera. And that is where vehicles should go and come; at that old crossing, that is no longer useful for that. The Immigration [office] is positioned at a place where you have to pass Immigration as you come in and go out. And so, Immigration and Customs work hand in hand to ensure that, and I don’t know that anybody should have a hue and cry over that old crossing. And of course, La Union was never established as an official crossing, so anybody who tries to cross there with any animals or plants, or anything is doing so illegally, really.”

Reporter

“But at the same time there is a Customs post established there so that those who wish to follow the law can do so?”

Godwin Hulse

“Except that we don’t have a BAHA personnel at La Union, and we don’t intend to put one there anytime soon. And that is one of our main concerns from the Ministry of Agriculture. Again, I will repeat and repeat and repeat: immigration is one thing – people go and come; we make a big deal over it but people go and come. This is a mobile world. Customs is another big thing because it involves revenue and Governments want to secure their revenue and want to make sure that no dangerous or hazardous products are brought such as firearms or drugs, etcetera. But I continue to maintain that the bugs and the insects, they don’t carry passports, they don’t stop at borders; and so if we don’t control what is going and coming we can wipe out our fledgling industries in a heartbeat.”