San Ignacio/Santa Elena Authorities Working to Keep Law and Order

Earl Trapp

We also spoke with Mayor Earl Trapp and Western Regional Commander Senior Superintendent Linden Flowers.  They both outlined areas that they are working to enforce and manage to keep things flowing smoothly in the towns of Santa Elena and San Ignacio.

Earl Trapp, Mayor, San Ignacio/Santa Elena

“For now what we are trying to do is to encourage the business establishments to stay open. What we don’t want to do is to create another problem. If we should close all the business establishments, imagine what will happen. People will need food, so eventually they will begin to vandalize and loot. We don’t want that. So, we are encouraging all business establishments to remain open, while we are praying that the virus will not spread. Once the people can get food for their loved ones, they are good. Once the market remains open and we still continue to manage it in a way that we have only a certain amount of people in the market at any one time. So, we continue to encourage the social distancing. With respect to assisting the more needy people, the poor people, I am sure some help is coming from some Good Samaritan within the community. I can tell you that SISE town council has already began the drive to get donations to assist more needy people and when the time come around, the council will do its part to assist.”

Linden Flowers

Sr. Supt. Linden Flowers, Western Regional Commander

“I am asking the residents, in the entire Cayo district and the rest of the country, that the police are out there to help with law and order and to protect your business establishment. The resorts that have closed down; the bus runs have been reduced but we need social distancing. I cannot ask you enough to do that and the police are going to be out there to enforce. We have the Statutory Instruments about over-crowding buses which should not have been happening. The gatherings of twenty-five people or more stay home and reduced the visits. We have asked the establishments to discontinue selling alcohol and to limit the number of persons. You see the sign here at the Mayor’s office where it speaks to one person. The distance you go into the supermarket or stores, where ever it is, keep your distance.”