7 News Belize

SOE Regs, Going Through Changes
posted (May 4, 2020)
That was Saturday, but today, things had changed.

Last week, the Attorney General said that there would be a daily assessment of the COVID-19 threat. He stressed that there was the possibility that the Government would be willing to lift more restrictions if the medical authorities were in agreement that the public health threat was decreasing.

Well after taking a close look at the big picture over the holiday weekend, the Government has decided to allow the domestic economy to restart to a certain degree. During today's edition of the Ask The Experts Webcast, Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte returned to announce that the Governor-General has signed a new Statutory Instrument into law, which allows for the vast majority of businesses to re-open from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.:

Hon. Michael Peyrefitte - Attorney General
"Five in the morning until 7 at night, fuel stations, fuel depots, LPG supplier, LPG depots and LPG distributors, agro-processors, food manufacturers, factories and manufacturers of carbonated and other beverages including spirits, which is liquor and soft drinks, agricultural and aquaculture farms: shrimp farms, agricultural farms, fishing for livelihood and sustenance, but not including sport fishing and leisure fishing."

"Waste disposal and sanitation companies, and auxiliary personnel, productive sector industries personnel and auxiliary workers - which is the production of drinkable water and agricultural workers, markets for produce, fish, and meat, public transportation providers, construction and construction sites, local manufacturers like welders and carpenters and stuff like that, bakeries and tortilla factories. Those are the businesses that can open from 5 in the morning until 7 at night."

Today's amendment also allows the re-opening of other businesses, which will be allowed to operate from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Here is the AG's comments on that:

Hon. Michael Peyrefitte - Attorney General
"All other businesses that did not fall into that category that I just said can now open from 8 in the morning until 7 at night. I should be able to end the show right there, right. The businesses I mentioned when I listed them."

"Five to seven at night. All other businesses can now open from 8 in the morning until 7 at night. Is that clear, Dorian? You understand that. Now, schools remain closed, but school offices can now open to collect fees, applications for next year, or whatever administrative stuff they want to do. So, those can open if they choose to. But remember, just like a convenience store, but just like everything else, you must have on a mask. You must maintain social distancing of 6 feet apart from each person."

There is also a strict list of rules that are still being enforced under today's amended SI. As we told you earlier, the borders are still closed, if you enter or exit the country, you will face 3 months imprisonment in the first instance.

The 8 p.m. curfew for adults and the 6 p.m. children's curfew is still in effect.

Wearing face masks while in public is still being enforced, along with the stiff penalties for violating this rule. Social Distancing and staying 6 feet apart must still be observed. Inter-district travel remains restricted, and must not be done unless it is for work, or for some important reason that can be justified with proof. Also, no one should be swimming in the country's rivers or the sea.

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