And while keeping border jumpers in facilities is proving to be its now kind of challenge - after all, we have seen escaped in the north and the south - what about keeping them out of Belize altogether.
The land, sea and river borders are vast and porous - but the commissioner says they are making strides in keeping the jumpers out:
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Well I don't think that there is anything that we can do to fully stop them. I know you would know that I have made visits to the various points and we had put things in place with a few to deter these borders jumpers from coming in to our country, but like everything else it's not 100% proof, so we still do have a few, but the good thing is that as they come we are capturing them and that again speaks volume to the work that the security forces are doing to maintain the integrity of our country and to prevent or capture those persons who come into our country illegally. The simple fact that the quarantine center in San Ignacio was overcrowded is testament to the fact that we are doing what we can to capture those who comes in. Since I want to Arenal and Calla Creek area we have seen more assistance coming in from John Public, who whenever they see something suspicious they text us, they call us and give us the information and we move in and apprehend persons and this is what we like about the whole situation, Belizeans are now seeing that if it is that we can curtail these persons who are coming into our country illegally, it will help us to keep our country at a minimal level with persons who are infected with Covid-19 virus. So we will continue to do what we can. We have increase our presence at Arenal and Calla Creek, in the Jalacte area as well as in the north. I can tell you that since we went to the north we have seen a significant reduction in borders jumpers in the north, but that is not to say that it is not occurring. It is still occurring and we are capturing them as well. But we know for a fact that a few of them may still slip in."
Later on, the Commissioner will discuss reports that Arenal villagers at the western border are being threatened by cattle dealers on the Guatemalan side who are trying to smuggle cattle over from Belize.
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