Blue Creek State of Emergency is Lifted

Dean Barrow

The state of emergency that prohibited movement in and out of the communities of Blue Creek and San Felipe in Orange Walk District have been lifted, as those villages now return to a sense of normalcy having been locked down since July tenth.  The S.O.E. came into force two weeks ago, amid an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases among border jumpers in those communities.  This morning, during the sitting of the House of Representatives, Prime Minister Dean Barrow made the official announcement that the S.O.E. had been removed.  Orange Walk South Area Representative, Jose Abelardo Mai also addressed the lifting of the S.O.E. which reportedly affected the agro-productive sector in the north.

Prime Minister Dean Barrow

“Let me indicate, I see my friend from Orange Walk South is here, that today we’re lifting the Blue Creek/San Felipe state of emergency.  Thank you.”

Jose Abelardo Mai

Jose Abelardo Mai, Area Representative, OW South

“Prime Minister, thank you for announcing the lifting of the state of emergency.  I want to, first and foremost, I think thank God for that.  I think that none of us understands what it is to be under a lockdown if you’ve never been locked down before.  So I want to give all praises to God for what has happened.  I think it’s an eye-opener for Orange Walk South for the productive area and I think that yes, as the prime minister mentioned, we have to abide by the rules.  We cannot be allowing people to be jumping the borders and coming in and causing this kind of problem.  So thank you Prime Minister for that announcement, the people of Orange Walk South, Blue Creek, San Felipe and all the surrounding villages are very happy to hear this announcement today.”