from a friend...

I don't get it but thousands of gullible Belizeans shoppers will descend on our ratty "Free" Zone tomorrow thanks to the largess of government that has finally relented and allowed Belizeans into the area for two days this year.

Fact is there is list of "banned" items starting from the famous turkeys that are unfit for human consumption, to ciggies and booze that presumably are bad for you.

Then the customistas will be merrily slapping on 42% tax (hopefully not with an evil Ho, Ho Ho), yup, not a typo, 42% tax on ALL items.
You do not even get the lamer BZ$50. exemption as you are technically not an international traveler.

The Chamber of Commerce estimates the customistas will have to process each hapless Belizean at the rate of one every 15 seconds.

It's a sick political gimmick that poor Belizeans are falling for hook, line and sinker. It makes me sick to the stomach to see such a heartless government playing this out.

And you have to take in US Dollars of Mexican pesos - no Belizean dollars wanted.

And the icing on the cake is that cops and customistas will be out in force manning additional checkpoints on the highways to harass Free Zone travelers who might have managed to rescue a turkey or pack of ciggies from the zone.

GOB should I think do the gimmick locally as the Chamber has said - remove all taxes for two days a year in the country. Really help poor Belizeanss and merchants.
And then work to reduce taxes

G. Mike is on radio at this time singing mightily for his breakfast and jumping for joy over the Free Zone gimmick.
Saying we should be happy none of those nasty turkeys, hams, liquors etc. will be available to Belizeans - we should all go out and make out own cheecha and rompopo and start to raise turkeys and by extension I think grow our own backyard pigs. But he was rudely "braced".

Poor G. Mike was left stammering as a true blue merchant Ernesto Vasquez happened to be hosting the morning show and not the clueless announcer who usually does the Friday morning show.
Ernesto is a well-known businessman and ripped to tatters G. Mikes blabber about the Free Zone

G. Mike was attempting to slam the merchants for high prices so let us all head to the FREE Zone. But it is the government that has cranked up taxes to incredible levels, even in the "FREE" zone.
G. Mike beat a hasty retreat - hopefully will try to call in to the other radio stations and manage to sell his goods to an empty head.

All G. Mike managed to get in was that there are excellent deals on Xmas decorations at the "FREE" zone. I do salute G. Mike however as he knows to beat an extra fast retreat when confronted by facts.

But puzzling that we have the police spokesman calling all media in an attempt to sell the "Free' Zone gimmick? What's in it for you Mike?

Only in Belize ...