Police Commissioner: Good Friday is Just Like An Ordinary Friday

Chester Williams

Traditionally, the sale of liquor on Good Friday was a no-no. In fact, many will recall last year when the Belize Police Department issued a notification warning against the sale of liquor and cracked down to ensure that business establishments stuck to the notice. But now, through an amendment to the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Regulation signed by the Minister of Local Government, businesses are now permitted to open on Good Friday and to sell their liquor. As the Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams puts it, by virtue of the amendment Good Friday is just like an ordinary Friday.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“The Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Regulation was amended recently by an S.I signed by the Minister of Local Government. In that S.I. it repealed the provision that speaks to the fact that liquor establishments are not allowed to be open on Good Friday. So now businesses that operate under shop liquor licenses can be open from six a.m., to nine p.m. Those establishments that operate under a publican special license can now open from nine a.m., to twelve midnight. And businesses that operate under a night club license can open from ten a.m., to two a.m., the following morning. So Good Friday now, based on the amendment to the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Regulation, is just like an ordinary Friday.”