New BAHA Offices: New Medfly Detections

Yesterday, a new BAHA office for the Northern part of Belize was inaugurated. The building located in Orange Walk was constructed at a cost of 108,000 with financial assistance from the IDB. According to Managing Director Pamela Scott, the main focus will be animal health and quarantine. While it is apparent that the new building will go a long way in animal control and pest eradication, one pesky bug that is still making it difficult for BAHA personnel to relax is the Mediterranean Fruit-fly. While quarantine efforts have been vigilant in the South, our one hundred million dollar industry is still not out in the clear. Latest news coming out of BAHA is that yesterday 4 male flies were detected in Seine Beight and 1 female fly in Placencia. So far, 27 flies in all have been intercepted in traps set. Check-points have been on-going in the quarantined areas of Seine Beight, Placencia and Punta Gorda Town. But while BAHA's containment efforts have been vigilant, illegal contraband is still being filtered in. The general public is therefore asked to desist from bringing in produce from Guatemala, Mexico and Honduras without first applying for an import permit and are advised to please comply with the conditions of importation for vegetables and fruits.