Closed Bridge Will Not Affect Belize Border Crossing

A temporary closure has been ordered of the old border crossing at Subteniente Lopez entering Chetumal. The Mexican government asked Belize to cooperate in order to stop vendors who were sneaking over goods from the Commercial Free Zone. From the perspective of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to Minister Wilfred Elrington, it seemed a reasonable decision and one that does not affect crossing between the two countries.

Wilfred Elrington

Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs

“I think the C.E.O. Sylvestre did have a brief word with Ambassador Carlos Quesnel just to ascertain what was his understanding of what was happening. I think what he reported to me was that the Mexicans were simply saying that goods that had been bought in the Free Zone were being sold on the Mexican side of the bridge, so it is really an internal Mexican situation, not a foreign affairs situation, and they were seeking to find ways to resolve it in a peaceful way.”