A pair of Mexican newly-weds who were driving to Belize on Saturday for a honeymoon got an experience they won't soon forget. At about 7:00 pm, police stopped them at the Burrell Boom checkpoint. They claim that the two constables on duty, PC's Bol and Ramos told them that they didn't have insurance to drive in Belize. So, the officers turned insurance salesmen and offered to sell them insurance for US$150. The Mexicans say they paid, but when they got to Belize City they went directly to their embassy to complain.
They ended up at the home of Luis Araiza, who is in charge of consular service in Belize. He took them to the Queen Street Police Station where he says, the police were very accommodating. He told us that police arranged an ID parade with four police officers, and the couple picked out the two.
When all that finished around midnight, the couple packed up, canceled their Belizean honeymoon, which was to have been held in San Pedro, and headed back for Chetumal. Araiza says they are expecting to have their US$150 returned to them.
Police press officer G. Michael Reid didn't sound so sure about that. He today told us that there was, quote "an incident" at the checkpoint, which is under investigation. He stressed that it is still only an allegation against the officers.
Araiza says he has been informed that the case will be dealt with internally which means there will be no criminal charges. Reid says no decision on that has been taken.
