7 News Belize

Slipping In Through The South
posted (May 7, 2020)

But, the biggest threat for COVID 19 to make an unwelcome appearance in Belize, is to come through our porous border.  

We’ve been telling you a lot about illegal border crossings in northern Belize, which has left two people serving a three month sentence, and another in quarantine.  Then, there is concern that the western border could also become another problem area for illegal crossings. But, two incidents from yesterday are bringing focus on the south in the Toledo District, where 2 people were caught crossing into Belizean territory illegally.

Reports reaching 7News is that a team of BDF soldiers stationed in Dolores village caught a Guatemalan national in Belizean territory at around 10:30 a.m. yesterday. Sometime 2:15 yesterday afternoon, a team of police officers and a nurse traveled to the Village, and found a Guatemalan farmer, identified as Nerry Heron, in BDF detention. The soldiers had found him clearing pastures for cattle in an area, which is supposedly owned by another Guatemalan. 

Since he had entered Belizean territory illegally, he was handed over to the police and the nurse, who tested him for coronavirus symptoms.  After that, he was taken to the Isabel Palma Poly Clinic, and later to the Punta Gorda Hospital, where samples were taken from him for further coronavirus tests. He has since been taken to the PG Sporting Complex Auditorium, where he will remain for a 21-day quarantine. After that quarantine phase, he will then face criminal charges for the violation of the State of Emergency regulations.

In a second incident, a group of BDF soldiers and police officers stationed at the Treetops Outpost in the Jalacte Village detained another man who crossed the border illegally. He was identified as 43-year-old Estevan Caal, a Belizean farmer from Pueblo Viejo Village in the Toledo District. Apparently, Caal tried to go over to the Guatemalan village of Santa Cruz, which borders Jalacte. He was detained by the Guatemalan authorities, and he was handed over to the Belizean lawmen in Jalacte. 

A team of police and a nurse visited Jalacte Village, and after speaking with Caal, he told them that he went over to Santa Cruz to enjoy a few beverages, but he was detained by the Guatemalan authorities. He was then informed that he had committed an offense against the State of Emergency Regulations and that all Belize borders were closed to both entry and exit.

He was then escorted to the Punta Gorda Hospital, where he was swabbed for COVID-19 tests. He was then informed that he would have to be quarantined for 21 days at the Punta Gorda Sporting Complex. After his quarantine period, he will be criminally charged for entering (or exiting) Belize illegally.

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