Tug Boat Leaves and Re-enters Belize Illegally, Crew Members Test Positive for COVID-19

Dean Barrow

An investigation has been launched by Chief Executive Officer Doctor George Gough, of the Ministry of Health, into the departure of a tugboat from Belizean waters in Big Creek to La Ceiba, Honduras.  Reports are that a crew of five were onboard the vessel when it left for Honduras for repair, notwithstanding an existing ban on cross-border travel.  All five men returned to Belize several days later and tested positive for COVID-19.  One those victims remains hospitalized at the K.H.M.H.   According to Prime Minister Dean Barrow, he does not know who sanctioned the travel and whether bail would be denied for those men upon their recovery since new and stricter laws are in place for border jumpers.

Prime Minister Dean Barrow

“I think some kind of written report is coming and I don’t want to overstate or misstate what he told me, but my sense is that there is absolutely no excuse for that and he happened to be in the area and discovered what had happened so he swabbed or got all the people swabbed and each one turned out to be positive.  Now if a big player, a big man, is responsible for something like that happening, no man, then you’re right, that is comparable with what happens, what ought to happen to him is comparable with what ought to happen to the border jumpers and if we… if nothing is done about that, once I know all the facts…”

Reporter

“No bail…”

Prime Minister Dean Barrow

“Once I know all the facts, remember that the no bail is for border jumpers and contrabandistas.  I’m not certain of the circumstances in which the tug came.  I really don’t, I don’t think you are far off in seeing a degree of equivalency, I’m just not sure how much they completely coincide.”