Last night we told you that there is a worrying number of elderly citizens in Spanish Lookout who have contracted COVID – and at least two of them have died from it. But this increase in cases stems primarily from the Mennonites in those communities refusing to abide by the COVID regulations, including mask wearing. But the fault also falls on the police's shoulders since they haven't been enforcing the rules.
Today, we asked the police minister about this, and he said the officers were apprehensive about policing in the community but that that needs to be rectified immediately.
Hon. Kareem Musa - Minister of Home Affairs
"It's actually an issue that came out on our national tour when we visited San Ignacio and Santa Elena because a lot of the officers had that concern not to enforce in Spanish Lookout and we said absolutely not. Spanish Lookout is a part of our country, and they serve Belizeans from all across the country on a daily basis and so they have a responsibility not just to protect themselves but to protect those individuals who come there for commerce each day and so the police department and those in the San Ignacio formation have that directive that they are to enforce the regulations in Spanish Lookout and other Mennonite communities across Belize."
And the ComPol said that he was also astounded during his last visit to Spanish Lookout. He has already instructed his officers to start ticketing everyone who doesn't wear a mask.
Chester Williams - Commissioner of Police
"I went to Spanish Lookout yesterday and I visited one store and I was really and truly pissed because no one in the store was wearing a mask and I got after them, I don't know they didn't call the talk show and report me because I went off and right away I got on the phone with the OC in San Ignacio and I told him to ensure that patrols are done in Spanish Lookout and to take along 3 ticket books because I'm sure if they do that they will be able to exhaust those ticket books. People in Spanish Lookout need to understand that they are a part of Belize, and they are subject to the laws of this country and so just like how people in other parts of this country are adherent to the regulations and when they are not they are penalized, the same should be done in Spanish Lookout."
