We also asked the commissioner about reports we have received that Arenal villagers are coming under threat from business interests who are determined to smuggle cattle through that border village. As we have told you - the illegal cattle trade between Belize and Guatemala - which flourished for years - has been halted because of COVID 19. There are pressures on both sides to keep pushing it through. Police have sworn to stop it - and now the villagers are coming under threat. We asked the compol about it:
Chester Williams- Commissioner of Police
"While we have no issue with cattle or livestock moving within the country when it comes to going to the Arenal or Calla Creek area we are going to stop you. Yes, the residents of Arenal have been complaining that they are getting threats from across the border and that is one of the reasons that we had increased our presence in Arenal with a view to ensure that at any given time we have two patrols. If one has to leave the village to go and do patrol on the Arenal road, then one remains in the Arenal area to ensure that law and order is maintained, as well as to deal with those persons who may want to come over into Belize from the Guatemalan side."
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