Liquor Sales End at 6 p.m., Other Changes Made to Curb COVID Cases
Viewers may have to make some additional adjustments to their eating, drinking and work life, as G.O.B. announces several changes to the COVID-19 regulations. With the exception of the tourist destinations of San Pedro and Caye Caulker, all restaurants in the Belize District can now offer outdoor dining only, at fifty percent capacity, via advanced reservations. Elsewhere, restaurants can have indoor seating and up to seventy-five percent capacity, but they must have proper ventilation and also require reservations. There has also been a serious change to the liquor laws countrywide, except for those establishments holding a restaurant license. In addition to these, there is also going to be strict enforcement of the regulations where funerals are concerned. Today News Five spoke with the Commander of Research, Planning, Legal Affairs and Compliance in the Belize Police Department, Assistant Commissioner Bart Jones. He told News Five that the Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams gave a renewed directive for all commanders to uphold the law.
ACP Bart Jones, Legal Affairs & Compliance Commander, Belize Police Department
“Some of the salient points in terms of this new regulation is the issue of the prohibition of the sale of alcohol after 6 p.m. And then there is the issue of the restaurants in Belize City – they should be open air only. Those are some of the ones, but we are preparing the notes for Police Officers just now. Another important provision in the regulation and some of the issues that we have seen across the country from time to time is now the prohibition on wakes and repasts. That is one of the new provisions.”
Bart Jones
Marion Ali
“And what is the limit again to social gathering/crowds? What is that limit?”
ACP Bart Jones
“It is still ten in terms of persons gathering, yes. In the commanders meeting that we had last week the Commissioner echoed the call for us to even do more in terms of going after persons particularly having these social events: the christening, the birthday parties, and so on, the baby showers, so as to try and be more forceful in terms of – in addressing the offences. But we have never stopped, but we recognized from last week that the numbers were climbing, and so the Commissioner, in his wisdom, had the commanders meet to drive home the point that we need to even do more. If you’re not wearing your masks or wearing your mask improperly, then that requires that the – the regulations says that you shall be issued with a ticket. The tickets are issued, for most parts, on the spot. In relation to the other offences where attending social gathering or holding social gathering, those are arrestable offences, but as soon as these persons are taken to the respective stations, they are processed and granted bail because they are committing offences, we do not want to then have the large gatherings in our cell blocks, so as quick as we could have them processed and out, that is what we, in fact, do.”
Marion Ali
“Oh, so those ones are not ticketed?”
ACP Bart Jones
“No. Those are not ticketed. Those are arrestables, and so they are arrested, taken to the respective stations and granted bail after being charged.”
Marion Ali
“And given a court date, I guess.”
ACP Bart Jones
“Yes. Once you’ve granted bail then that states the date for court.”
As a part of the new regulations, funerals must be limited to one hour, at the cemetery only, with no wakes or repasts allowed. In the workplace, all casino employees must now be vaccinated and all guests must show proof of vaccination to enter. Casinos continue to operate at fifty percent capacity. B.P.O.s likewise have to stick to fifty percent and all staff must be vaccinated. At B.P.O.’s the special internal auditor for COVID-19 must submit a monthly written report detailing name and immunization status of every employee reporting to work. Employees of Belize Post Office and employees at any port are now added to the list of frontline workers. These amendments to the regulations take effect immediately.
