We turn now to a few of the labor concerns that Belizeans raised with the Ask the Experts panel this evening during the webcast.

One viewer asked the labor commissioner about the contractual obligations that employers have to their staff during the state of emergency. Here's how she answered that one:

What Will Employees Get?

Another Belizean asked the Labor Commissioner about an employee's financial expectations should be if their employer decides to close down business during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here's her response to that inquiry:

What About Those On The Frontline?

And finally, from today's webcast, we have the response that the Labor Commissioner gave to a question about the possibility that the frontline workers - such as the police and the medical professionals - could get sick with the coronavirus while providing essential services.

Here's her answer:

Tomorrow, Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte will be the featured on the Ask The Experts webcast.

Tropic Air, More Changes

Last week, we told you how Tropic Air had scaled back a significant portion of its operation to cope with loss in business that has accompanied the COVID-19 pandemic. Well, the local air carrier has downsized a bit more for tomorrow's start of the state of emergency and curfew.

The company says that effective April 2nd, 2020, they will be temporarily suspending all passenger flights. The last flights were scheduled for today, and Tropic Air is anticipating that tomorrow's suspension to last for 30 days.

Cargo flights will continue on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between Belize City, San Pedro, Caye Caulker, and Corozal only.

Tropic Air's cargo station Hours for the Belize City Municipal Airport is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. San Pedro's cargo station hours are from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m, Monday to Friday. Corozal's cargo station hours are from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday to Friday. Caye Caulker's cargo station hours are from 9:30 a.m to 2:30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays only.

Tropic Air is asking its customers to tune into its social media channels for real-time updates because COVID-19 and the state of emergency could cause unforeseen changes in their schedules.

Fisheries Staying Afloat

The Fisheries Department is reporting tonight they are taking a few steps to remain operational during the pandemic and the State of Emergency.

They say that in conformity with the national effort to contain the spread of the virus, the Fisheries Department offices in Belize City and Punta Gorda will be closed to the public starting tomorrow, until further notice. Also, all marine reserves under their care will be close to visitation until further notice.

They also say, quote, "Fishermen are informed that fishing activities will be permitted outside of the declared curfew hours (8:00 PM to 5:00 AM)." End quote.

The Fisheries Department also be out on the sea policing fishermen to ensure that no illegal fishing activities are taking place during the COVID-19 pandemic. A representative told us yesterday that they have identified funding for fuel for enforcement purposes at sea.

The Regulations, Again

And, so the state of emergency goes into effect tonight at midnight.

Here again are the limitations on movement and services that can be offered:

Michael Peyrefitte, Attorney General

"During the hours of 8pm and 5am the next day, everything will be closed with a few exceptions: People will not be allowed to wonder on the streets or be on the streets except a few designated people. During the day hours certain businesses will be open, certain businesses will not be open. If you are going to be moving during the state of emergency, you have to be moving with a purpose. You can't just be taking stroll or walking down the street or going to see a friend. You must have a specific purpose for which you are moving and the police would be able to stop you and question you as to what is your specific purpose and if your specific purpose doesn't match what is in the regulation, the police may arrest you without warrant under the regulations and you could be fined and confined. You can only move during the day. This is from 5am to 8pm to purchase essential needs, to get medical or veterinary attention, medical emergencies or you are an essential worker going to and from work. Including in these are security guards patrolling, agricultural or factory workers or other similar operations requiring the movement of personnel for the effective conduct of business or operations. You can do these during the none curfew hours, but you must be moving for those purposes. These are the people who will be allowed to be out and about even during the curfew hours which is as we said 8pm to 5am the next day. Government offices, medical and auxiliary services, private security services, public utility workers, social workers authorized to respond to emergencies, sanitation workers, productive sectors which involves people who have to produce agricultural products and potable water."

"Essential services are also the government offices, departments, statutory bodies and state owned companies. Between the hours of 5am and 7pm fuel stations and fuel depots, public transportation providers, bakeries and tortilla factories, mills and other factories, farms, port operations and services connected with the loading and unloading of ships and aircrafts delivery at and from ports. So if you are going to work, it will have to be if you are going to work during the none curfew hours, you must be going to one of these places to work."

"Between the hours of 8am and 7pm which is a later time these businesses can open at a later time. Pharmacies, convenient stores, food stores, super markets, meat shops, butchers, distributers and factories that deal with carbonated and other beverages, financial institutions, wholesalers and retailers, hotels, markets, service of take out food, mechanic shops, waste disposal. hardware stores. If you are one of those you can open up between 8am and 7pm at night. If you're not any one of those you have to be closed."

So there again, you heard about those essential workers who provide vital public services. At midnight once the state of emergency commences the movement of even essential workers will be restricted to within 8:00 p.m. to 4:59 a.m. Those few who are exempt require a pass. But where can they access these all too necessary passes?

They'll need to get them through their employer. Employers of essential workers are required to provide a list of names of every such employee along with their social security number, and job title to the Chief Executive Officer of the relevant government ministry for the clearance. Passes will be prepared and authorised by the Minister of National Security.