AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Talk Belize Travel Postponement of the Reopening of Land Borders and Sea Ports

Based on the formal recommendations of the COVID-19 Advisory Committee, the Government of Belize hereby announces that the opening of the land borders and sea ports has been postponed to February 2022.

The delay in opening will allow for the health system to better prepare for the emergence of the Omicron variant as well as to prepare for the education system's return to hybrid learning on 10th January 2022.

The Ministry of Health & Wellness will continue to monitor the situation very closely to ensure the integrity of Belize's health system and the welfare of Belizeans.

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Protocols Still Being Worked out for Land Borders Reopening

Earlier today the P.M. told the media that the reopening date remains in place and that the protocol at the land borders across the country has still not been finalised. Now the proposed reopening has been met with mixed reviews, but P.M. Brice�o told the media today that the country cannot remain locked down.

Prime Minister John Brice�o

"We have agreed that we'll have to open the borders, we cannot stay locked up forever. And I know some people says that it has helped business - yes it has helped business - it has helped government to collect more revenues because then we are buying more in Belize. But the truth of the matter is that we can't remain locked off from the rest of the world. We've opened our airports for quite some time so now it is time to do our land borders. We're working on the protocols. The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Tourism, in which border management is, they are working closely in having protocols that will keep us safe. One of the things that we've been saying though for Belizeans is that if you want to go across the border, you have to be vaccinated because we want to make sure that you are as protected as you possibly can. And that if you only go for a day, you will not necessarily have to take the rapid test, but you will have to be vaccinated to go across the border."

Channel 5

Postponement of Border Reopening Met with Mixed Reviews

G.O.B.'s announcement on the postponement of the opening of land borders and sea ports has been met with mixed reviews. On our News Five social media page, followers were up in arms, expressing their frustration and discontent with the decision made on the advice of the COVID-19 Advisory Committee. So today, we took to the streets of Belize City to get some live reactions. Contrary to those Facebook viewers, we found majority are in favour of the borders remaining closed.�

Meredith Kelly, Belize City Resident

"I happy cause I noh think. Well dehn say, we have to learn to live with the pandemic. And I could understand that, but this point when the omicron deh out and we noh know what it is all about yet. So to open the border to me would be a disaster. So for me, I miss Chetumal and Melchor, but to me, my life comes first."

Jakema Moreira, Dangriga Resident

"There is a reason why they are not opening it up because there is a new variant so we just have to wait it out."

Duane Moody

"Did you anticipate going because I know a lot of people have been saying that they miss going across the border?"

Jakema Moreira

"Yeah, I do miss it, but I wasn't in a rush to go. I want to wait until things calm down before I go so I am good with it."

Shamira Neal, Resident

"It doesn't really affect me honestly. I had no intentions of travelling right now especially in this pandemic. I have an autoimmune disease so the border is off for me right now."

Resident

"It really frustrating honestly because yo deh ina Belize all day, all week, everything. Yo want get out and take wah lee circle because ah yo family. But I guess we stuck."

Duane Moody

"What do you miss the most about the fact that you can’t go across the border?"

Resident

"Freedom that dah weh yo miss. Yo just feel restricted now. Ih feel like dehn really hold yo down and dehn got yo and you cannot move. That's the most thing yo know."

Channel 5