State of Emergency for Ambergris Caye is Extended for 30 days

San Pedro remains under lockdown tonight as San Pedranos observe a state of emergency imposed since Monday following the announcement of the first case of the virus. Generally, the streets have been empty as residents stay at home and tourism activities have come to a grinding halt. Those who travel to the island to work have had to remain there as domestic travel by airline and water taxis is suspended. The normally booming tourist destination is one of the hardest hit and has suffered from cancellations in hotels as well as cruise ship visitors.  At this afternoon’s press conference, the PM also announced that due to the second case of COVID-19, San Pedro will remain under a state of emergency for another thirty days.

Dean Barrow

Prime Minister Dean Barrow

“We are going to be extending the state of emergency that we declared for Ambergris Caye. So that is going to be extended so that we don’t have to keep going back to the Governor General or worse, having to convoke the National Assembly. The new proclamation will extend it for a total of thirty days, with the very earnest hope that it can be lifted well before then. But we just out of an abundance of caution and, as I said, so that we don’t have to keep going back to his Excellency, we are putting in the thirty day period as a sort of failsafe. But we clearly have not only the hope, but the expectation that it will be lifted before thirty days.”