ComPol Williams: “Spanish Lookout Is Not a Private Community”

And, with that, the police have been cracking down on the Mennonite community of Spanish Lookout. According to Commissioner Williams, a team of officers went into the community to enforce the COVID-19 regulations, and as a result, a number of tickets were issued.  ComPol Williams says the police are not targeting the Mennonite community, but the department cannot take willful blindness to what is happening within the community.  Williams says the laws are for everyone to adhere to.

Chester Williams

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“When you look at the definition of public, it says public is any place to which the general populace is invited, either directly or indirectly. Now, we can look at Spanish Lookout. Yes it is a Mennonite community, but you and I can go to Spanish Lookout and shop. The Belizeans outside of Spanish Lookout can go in unimpeded and shop. The stores in Spanish Lookout are public places. The general public goes into those stores and purchase whatever they want, once it is sold there. So, how can you call those private places? Even if you have your house, your private yard and you decide you are going to put a fast food place in your private yard where you invite the public to come and buy, it automatically makes your yard a public place. So to use that justification that Spanish Lookout is private, it is not going to hold water.”