7 News Belize

Easter Combustion In The City
posted (April 21, 2011)
For some, the long Easter weekend means time for deep, reflective prayer, for others, it means going to Cancun or Playa, while others will travel to all corners of Belize, and some will stay at home, glad for the rest.

But whatever you do this Easter, all preparations had to be made today because tomorrow every where's going to be shut down in observance of Good Friday.

I went out in the combustion of last minute everything today and here's what I found:….

Monica Bodden Reporting
Whether you're travelling on water or land - it's usually the same hustle and bustle.

Everyone with one objective - trying to reach their destination as quickly as possible.

John Gideon - Porter - San Pedro Belize Express
"Business like wise - from since we start we have been so busy on Easter. Plenty of people are riding this Easter. We are not keeping up with our schedule, as the people come and the boats are full we leave. For the Easter most people travel with Belize San Pedro express because it's one of best service, once you come with us we take care of your luggage, all luggage are safe with us. We have reliable boats, bigger and plenty of boats so most people want to travel with us. We have six runs; we are going to have 9:00, 1:00, 12:00, 3:00, 4:00, and 5:30."

Monica Bodden
"This is for the entire weekend?"

John Gideon - Porter - San Pedro Belize Express
"The entire weekend until the Easter finishes."

Ticket prices to San Pedro are normally 55 dollars round trip and 35 dollars round trip to Caye Caulker.

But for this entire weekend, San Pedro Belize Water Taxi is offering a 10 percent discount.

Our second stop today was at the Old Novelo's bus terminal.

This was how it looked around 3:30 this evening. The crowd all gathered trying to make it on this 4:00 o'clock James Express Bus. For those who didn't make it on bus, we understand there was a second one.

And the tradition of eating fish during Easter holidays is still very much alive.

The number of people at the Conch Shell Bay fish market this evening - is testimony to that enduring cultural practice.

Traffic was backed up all the way on Vernon Street - as crowds gathered by the waterside.

The fishermen had a wide variety of their day's catch on display. Fish was going from 8 dollars a pound all the way up to 13 dollars a pound.

Depending on how good you were at negotiating - you might have saved a couple dollars - but with prices at an Easter premium everyone had to spend for fresh fish.

And for those planning on crossing the Mexican border - here are some thing you need to know.

Marcelino Miranda - Press Officer, Embassy of Mexico
"There are some things that the embassy of Mexico wants to remind the Belizean public; one of them is that Belizeans do need a visa to go to Mexico. With the Belizean passport they can go anywhere in Mexico. They can go to Merida, they can go to Cancun, Mexico City, everywhere in Mexico and immigration officers give Belizeans 6 months to stay in Mexico. The other thing that we would like remind people is that tinted windows are not allowed in Mexico. But the local police in Mexico - they are allowing Belizeans because they understand that the cars are tinted in Belize. They are allowing Belizeans to travel in Mexico. But we would like to also remind that sometimes police officers indicate Belizeans to roll down the windows as a security measure, that's important to remember. But they are not going to be fined by driving cars with tinted windows. The Mexican police has establish a system in which any foreigner can complain about any kind of abuse or any kind of event in which they feel that they have been abuse so especially during this season the Mexican police have stated and has implemented a special operation and special program for protecting visitors and also we can receive at the embassy of Mexico any complain regarding some wrong doing by any official in Mexico."

The police also shared some safety tips and assured the public that they will be boosting patrols over the long weekend.

Fitzroy Yearwood - Police Press Officer
"Monica let's begin with the home. If you leave your home for some reason to travel to one of our beautiful locations please we are asking that you unplug all electronic devices, except for of course your refrigerator but everything else we are asking because fires start in some queer ways sometimes. We are asking that you turn off your butane so that you don't have any accidental leaks and if you have a neighbor that would be home let that neighbor know that you would be out - you will not be in your home so that that person can lend an eye to help protect your property and when travelling on the highway we are asking people - motorist to look out for children that may be playing near our major highways or streets. This is a holiday - children are out of school, we know that a lot of playing will be happening and we know the risk of when you are using your vehicle. Please don't operate it if know that have been drinking. Don't mix alcohol and driving because you definitely will engage in not only your life but your family's life, the other driver's family life and the other driver life. I just want to remind the public that that's their part and we at the police department will be conducting our various operations especially in Belize City where we will have the support of the Belize Defence Force and the Coast Guard. We have our various checkpoints, continue to house searches and we will try to rid Belize City of all these criminal elements in our continuous effort."

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