Tourist Arrested for Mask Violation Still Wants to Return to Visit Belize!
The American tourist who the police arrested for mask violation in Caye Caulker opened up about her ordeal. While there were concerns that her experience could cause a black eye for Belize, as the country scrambles to attract tourists during the pandemic, the woman says that she promises to revisit Belize despite the shock of what happened. As we told you on Monday, the woman was arrested because she wasn’t wearing a mask in public. Her justification to the cop who arrested her was that she was eating. The incident was captured on video and widely shared across social media. Area representative for Belize Rural South Andre Perez heard those concerns from his constituents and he met with the visitor to check how she was doing. News Five’s Andrea Polanco reports.
Andrea Polanco, Reporting
The American tourist, who was arrested and subsequently released for not wearing a face mask in public on the island of Caye Caulker, says that she will be back. The woman, whose name is Cher Urbina, says she is grateful for the outpouring of support and that while she was shocked by the interactions with the police on Saturday, she claims that she is still very much interested in exploring investment opportunities in Belize – and that this will not be her last trip to the country.
Cher Urbina
Cher Urbina, Tourist
“Although my husband, brother and I were very shocked by what transpired, I wanted to reassure all that I am still committed to exploring investment opportunities here in the country and forming new and stronger bonds with the people of Belize. As I conclude my first trip to Belize I am sure it won’t be the last. I pray for the speedy recovery for our economy as we strive to return to normal.”
But what helped to turn this negative experience right around? According to Urbina, she has felt the warmth and support from the public and the tourism industry stakeholders. Added to that, she welcomed a visit by Area Representative for Belize Rural South Andre Perez.
Cher Urbina
“I wanted to take a moment and thank you all, especially to the people of Caye Caulker and San Pedro for the generous outpouring of support and kindness after the events that occurred on Saturday. I want to extend a special thanks to the people of the Ahi Resort for their tireless and ardent advocacy and to the ministerial cabinet for personally reaching out to listen to and assuage our concerns and to make sure we knew that the people of Belize are in our corner and already began making improvements to ensure that these events don’t repeat.”
…and that’s what Minister Andre Perez hopes – that tourists and the law enforcers won’t have any more of this kind of interaction that blows up online. So, Perez reached out to Urbina the day after the incident to extend apologies. He says the meeting was cordial and he is happy that the issue was ironed out.
Andre Perez
On the Phone: Andre Perez, Area Representative, Belize Rural South
“It was a very cordial discussion and the lady was very calm and understanding. We respect how she conducted herself – that she was able to look at the bigger picture. She seemed to have weighed out her experience of Belize and not taking this unfortunate incident that occurred to her to damage her entire experience. She spoke well of Belize. She spoke well of the people she met and she was very grateful to the resort – the staff was wonderful and she was appreciative of that. She also came in looking at the opportunities in buying property to perhaps come back here for business or retirement – she mentioned that to me. She was very gracious and grateful that I went there to represent the government of Belize, actually on the instructions of the Prime Minister as well, to express apologies for whatever happened there. Any negative videos there is always affecting us as such, but the lady was very gracious and she opted to do a video and we didn’t coerce her – because she was very grateful with how we reacted and treated her , that there is much more goodness in Belize. So, that is another thing that we are asking for our people that although they are sharing it, to not condemn anybody because we are a free a country but this point highlights that sometimes we need to be responsible although we need to bring to light certain things that are not right but we must weigh out the consequences that can lead to us. It does cause a black eye.”
Reporting for News Five, I’m Andrea Polanco.
