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Joined: Oct 1999
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Todays ReefTV Broadcast



Even though stores are open we strongly encourage everyone to stay at home. If you do decide to go out for essentials make sure you practice social distancing both inside and outside the store. Do not have conversations while waiting in line. When you reach home, change into a new set of clothes or take a bath. To take extra measures, disinfect all products you bought.



Expect that no businesses will be open or operating (other than essentials, and this will be posted by government agencies) up until the point that the 30 day state of emergency is lifted. Please take care everyone, we will be posting all the re-openings as they are able to occur in the future

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Lino's Meats will be opening tomorrow from 7am to 10am except for Lino's Meats South which will be closed. Please bring your list ready so we can attend as much people as we can since only 5 people will be able to come in at a time. No deliveries will be available. Thanks for your cooperation!

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Disinfecting the Streets of San Pedro

San Pedro Tour Operators Association and the business community are teaming up to disinfect the streets and areas where people have been, particularly around shops. This move has been approved by the local health department.



Rules, opening hours, government offices open/closed....these are all changing by the day. We got a tip that if you tune into channel 20 at 7:00 a.m., you are able to hear the latest official news about town council and other business closures, openings, or changes.

Just an FYI to anyone that goes to Superbuy in town. There was an additional sign that said they will not be allowing customers inside.

[Linked Image]

===========



Today we where out disinfecting all the public spaces in town to help in minimizing the COVID-19, was well accepted by the community we will continue doing it on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Photos by San Pedro Tour Operators

Click photos for more pictures!




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The San Pedro Experience

San Pedro doesn't have any ventilator. But, right now what they have an abidance of is something we're all going to need in the next few weeks - and that is the experience of how to live within the confines of a state of emergency.

Indeed, as you heard at the top, tomorrow night when the clock strikes 12:00, Belize will enter a national state of emergency. It's the first since the national security crisis sparked by the rejection of Heads of Agreement in 1981. And if you, like the majority of Belizeans, were born after that date you might be wondering what a statewide lockdown is like.

San Pedro has been living with that since Monday, March 23rd. Islanders have now spent an entire week under state-sanctioned lockdown and life is far from what it once was. This afternoon we spoke to Dion Vansen of the San Pedro Sun via phone. He gave us an insight into what we can expect to wake up to on Thursday morning. Vansen says that while we'll be at home doing our part to stop the spread of COVID-19, our freedoms will be severely limited.

Dion Vansen, Reporter, San Pedro Sun
"So between 7:00 and 12:00 there is some activity on the island. Usually the stores they open at 7 and then some of them close at 10 and you do have others that stay open until midday that's when you will see people if they need to go to the grocery stores to get anything that they need they will go and form a line outside of the stores and wait their turn to go inside and do their shopping also you have one gas station, one gas station open so if people need gas you see people in their golf carts in their vehicles going to the gas station to put in gas."

"After 12 everything goes back to silent mode. Everything is closed, everybody is expected to be at home and then the streets get quiet again. You might see some police officers driving around town to make sure that nobody that's suppose to be outside is out unless you'd have to be an essential worker or something like that then yes but that's what's happening on the island right now that's what's been happening for the past 9 days or 8 days and a half."

Cherisse Halsall:
"Talk to me about Ambergris Stadium and the vandalism that went on there. Do you think that that's based on some of the frustrations that people have been feeling at this time?"

Dion Vansen
"It can be that, It can be the sense of you know being worried and also perhaps to get attention because at the moment everybody is in a way first to be on isolation and so this can create these kinds of behavior's I guess in trying to get some attention from the public, which is not the best actions because that can get you in trouble and that's what happened to these people that did that. They got into trouble. It happened in the night but of course, that's the time that everybody is supposed to be at home."

Cherisse Halsall:
"So would you say that that means that the island isn't being policed as effectively as it should be?"

Dion Vansen
"So far as long as I could see and understand I think they're doing a good job but you know you can't really be everywhere but so far things have been pretty much under control. They have been no acts of violence or anything like that because actually patrols do increase in the night so I would say this was an isolated incident."

"It's a different way of living because if you can't come out of your home because that is the quarantine instruction then you kind of miss all the things you used to do, you miss your freedom in the way of when you were able to be out there at your own call now you can't. You kind of have a sense of you need to appreciate that when life goes back to normal you won't take things for granted and you'll try to enjoy them as best as you can because at this moment you are limited, your freedom has been limited."

Two minors have been charged for the Ambergris stadium graffiti. One of them was offered $1000 bail. The other had been given a conditional discharge for a previous crime and broke that condition by re-offending. Both boys were taken back to the stadium and ordered to clean the wall. We also note that three parents of those minors have been charged with "breach of curfew conditions." and fined $500 dollars. Those fines must be paid before the 31st of March, 2021. Failure to do so would result in prison time.

Channel 7


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Ambergris Caye's quarantine rules differ from Central Government; Mayor asks residents to wait for 14-day clearance

In a statement issued via their Facebook Page, The San Pedro Town Council made the bold declaration that some of their rules for Ambergris Caye would over-ride the latest Belize Constitution (Emergency Powers) Regulations, 2020 in place due to COVID-19. On Tuesday, March 31st, following the announcement of a third coronavirus case, Prime Minister Dean Barrow declared a State of Emergency for the entire country of Belize. On that same day, The San Pedro Town Council issued its own version of the amendments, making special note that previous rules in place for Ambergris Caye would remain in place. "The following operations are STILL NOT ALLOWED and PROHIBITED: delis, bars, construction, and fishing, until further notice. Restrictions will be re-visited on Monday, April 6, 2020. Anyone violating these regulations will be arrested. The sale of alcohol is STRICTLY PROHIBITED during this time; this will result in the revoking of the business' liquor license and trade license. The Belize Coast Guard will be monitoring our waters for any violators; if caught, consequences may lead to arrest and/or the termination of your captain's license."

There was much confusion upon this statement, and on Thursday, April 2nd, Mayor Daniel Guerrero joined Belize Rural South Area Representative Manuel Heredia Jr. at the Reef TV Morning Show. Host Eiden Salazar asked for clarification of the rules. "We are not on par with what the Central Government is doing. We are on an island, and we do not have a hospital�if things were to get worse, we do not have the resources�we are kind of prepared, but we have to be real," said Guerrero. He then compared our numbers to that of developed countries that have more resources than Belize, and how uncontrollable the coronavirus cases have been there. Reiterating that San Pedro Town has always been different, being an island and far from the mainland, he added, "It is not a challenge that we are doing to Central Government; it's just that we have to think different. It's not time to relax."

Click here to read the rest of the article in the San Pedro Sun

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San Pedro, The Island Town of Firsts

Last night, we took you to both San Pedro and Caye Caulker for a 30,000-dollar donation of food items that the San Pedro Belize Express presented to both communities. Given the hardship of the COVID-19 pandemic, the water taxi company was giving back to the residents, who've given them success.

Well, that donation's handing over gave us the opportunity to speak with the leaders about how the two islands are coping with the shutdown of all commercial activity since the tourism season has been abruptly terminated by COVID-19.

We report first on the state of affairs in San Pedro, where the first and the second cases of the coronavirus were first confirmed.

They were also the first community to face a restriction of movement because of the virus. So, during our conversation with their Area Representative yesterday, we asked him to give an update on how islanders are coping with the State of Emergency, the curfew, and the shutdown of the tourism industry, which is affecting them directly. Here's how that conversation went:

Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr. - Minister of Tourism
"Here in San Pedro, everybody has been united. Everybody has been cooperating with one another. We've even been going a little further than what the national emergency process that they have. Why? As an island, we have to make sure that we take care of our residents to make sure that this doesn't spread anymore. Remember, we were the first one to get it. So, as the leaders over here, even in hurricanes, we go a little beyond what other people go, and we have learned to do it well. Right now, I believe that if the good Lord permits it, the two persons that have it on the island will be re-screened again, and the swabs will be done. By Sunday/Monday, we are supposed to know where we stand, and then probably, we can start to - I wouldn't say open up completely, but start gradually to make sure that those persons that want to go back home can go."

Reporter
"How do we recover after something like this?"

Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr.
"Well, you know, you always have to have a contingency plan. Even over here in San Pedro, in there is a step 2, if anything should occur."

"We already have offers from owners of hotels over here, getting together with the Belize Hotel Association, BTIA, BTB, and putting up recommendations as to whenever things start to get a little better, we are already in action. You always have to be prepared. You always have to be on the lookout. I used to say that tourism was flourishing, but it is a fragile industry, hurricane, epidemic, or whatever. Today, you see this pandemic that we have. We don't know how long, but I personally believe that this season is over. We will probably start to see the light in the next 6-7 months."

And Heredia is hoping that San Pedranos and the wider Belizean public will take away lessons from this pandemic. He hopes that Belizeans will think more about saving money, and conserving resources once this crisis is over:

Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr. - Minister of Tourism
"In the good days of the tourism industry, I used to tell my fellow fishermen, look, don't dedicate all your eggs into one basket. The day will come, as I mentioned - a fragile industry - the day will come when one of these things will hit us, and what do you do next?"

"I am saying, every time we go to the talk show that we have to start learning from this. This is a lesson for us. We have to start to learn. We have to start to live a different type of life. From now on, I believe that every Belizean has to start to live a different kind of life. In the time of plenty, they used to big life, rich and famous, and when you advise them that the days of crisis might come, they just used to ignore it. Today, we are here. It is not late, but we have to change our style of living from now on."

In other news related to San Pedro, the National Emergency Management Organization in the Belize Rural South Division today conducted a simulation. The authorities wanted to conduct a drill to test all their protocols while transporting a patient who is ill with COVID-19 to the San Pedro Care Center via ambulance.

NEMO Belize Rural South said, quote, "It is important to practice so that everyone on the care team is prepared in all aspects of their protocols". End quote.

This was only a drill, and the person wasn't actually sick with the virus.

Channel 7


San Pedro Belize Express Donates Over $30,000 in Supplies to Caye Caulker & San Pedro

A number of companies and organizations are stepping up and joining in efforts to assist persons who are being impacted in some way by COVID-19. Today, San Pedro Belize Express made a donation to benefit the residents of San Pedro and Caye Caulker. San Pedro was closed down by a state of emergency when the virus was detected on two persons. There are no known cases in Caye Caulker, but the residents moved quickly to isolate themselves. Here is Duane Moody with a report.


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BCG Commandant retracts comments regarding people returning to Ambergris Caye

On Monday April 6th, the head of the Belize Coast Guard (BCG) Captain Elton Bennett stated during a television talk show that there is no limitation based on a private vessel moving at sea with a purpose, going so far as to say that persons planning to travel to Ambergris Caye can do so if they have a valid reason. This information raised concerns on the island, as cases of COVID-19 have increased on the mainland. While the Emergency Operation Center (EOC), voiced their disagreement on the idea to have free movement between the Cayes and the mainland, Commandant Bennett quickly changed his position after he was provided with information from the latest amended Statutory Instrument (SI) No. 47 2020, which prohibits people from traveling within districts.

EOC's Chairman and Area Representative, Honourable Manuel Heredia Jr., had strongly refuted the idea of allowing anyone traveling to the island at the moment. "We will do whatever it takes to make sure to monitor and not allow boats to come in during this Easter Weekend to the island," he said. "It will only complicate matters." Heredia indicated that they are working on a plan on how to handle this issue. He pointed out that the island has undergone tremendous efforts to keep residents safe and COVID-19 free, and allowing travel from the mainland to Cayes could jeopardize their work so far. Heredia acknowledged that Ambergris Caye is part of Belize, but given the time of emergency set by a proclamation, the safety of the islanders is a top priority. Heredia indicated that by the end of this week, and if no additional COVID-19 cases develop on the island, Ambergris Caye could start slowly opening up within the community. "Our job is to look after the interests of the island residents," Heredia ended.

Click here to read the rest of the article in the San Pedro Sun

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San Pedro national emergency regulations continue to differ from Central Government, despite new SI

[Linked Image]As of Saturday, April 11th, the entire country of Belize went on a national 14-day quarantine, due to increased cases of COVID-19. This state of emergency is under a new Statutory Instrument (SI) detailing the new rules to be followed countrywide. However, authorities on Ambergris Caye continue to override those new regulations. Mayor Daniel Guerrero has gone on record to explain that these actions are done because the situation on the island is different, due to its distance from the mainland. Mayor Guerrero has stated that some of the rules on Ambergris Caye are efforts to mitigate the virus and not a direct challenge to the orders from Central Government.

The new SI, No. 54 of 2020, sent the entire nation on lockdown, implementing some new regulations to contain the ongoing spread of COVID-19, which at press time, numbered 18. The new law included two main changes to the existing rules, mainly focusing on movement and reducing the hours of operation for some businesses. Convenience stores, food stores, supermarkets, meat shops (including butchers) can operate from 8AM to 4PM. Bakeries and tortilla factories can run from 5AM to 4PM, and fuel stations, including LPG suppliers and distributors, up to 7PM.

On Ambergris Caye, it appears that none of these businesses can operate past midday - in fact, by 11AM, most are closed. This has been the schedule since March 23rd, when the first case of COVID-19 was reported on the island, and a state of emergency, along with a 72-hour quarantine, was put in place. This was eventually upgraded to a 30-day quarantine two days later when a second case was identified on the island. Although Central Government issued a new set of regulations as part of a National State of Emergency on March 31st, The San Pedro Town Council issued its own version of regulations the same day, prohibiting the operation of delis, bars, construction, and fishing, until further notice.

Click here to read the rest of the article in the San Pedro Sun

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