The day is finally here - the land borders are reopened after almost two years of being closed. It's been promised since last year and many had their doubts that it would actually happen. But this morning, our team went to the Santa Elena border where Belizeans were crossing as if it were 2019 - with a few changes, of course. A vax card is a must - or the app from the Ministry of Health - and if you're staying overnight, you need to have an extra $100 handy for a COVID test upon re-entry. But most Belizeans who crossed today were just happy to go to Chetumal - even if that meant returning before 6pm, when the borders close.
Traffic was minimal today though, with the occasional private vehicles and one bus, but by the end of the day over 800 Belizeans went through - some Freezone workers and some to enjoy La Ciudad De Chet. The border management is expecting more traffic on the weekend though and they are prepared for the crowd. And if you're unsure of how the process works, well, they'll be there to guide you.
Our team went through the border and crossed over into Chetumal, where they visited the Plazas Las Americas and one of Belize's favorite hotels, Los Cocos. Courtney Menzies has this story.
Courtney Menzies:
The land border are fully opened and here at the Santa Elena border, Belizeans have been freely crossing over into Chetumal for the first time in almost two years. But if you haven't been here since early 2020, a few things have changed. You have to be fully vaccinated to cross and if you spend overnight, you'll have to take a test. The port commander, Shanika Norales, explained the new process to us.
Shanika Norales, Port Commander, Belize Northern Border Station
"For exiting, of course you need to come between the hours of 6am and 10pm, you must have a valid travel document, you must be fully vaccinated. You will be issued a Ministry of Health form which is stamped by them to show when you left the country."
"For entry, there's only one bridge that can be utilized and that's the Chatemal bridge, which is the new bridge. There you will encountrer, the health authority, the diagnostic center which does the testing upon arrival and agency from BMA, border management agency, you will be issued a card where you will full out, if you are tested negative or positive, positive persons that are Belizeans will be able to come in after signing a mandatory quarantine orm by ministry of health. They will need to be escorted by a family member or utilize a gold standard tranposrtation which is also available at the OIRISA point."
And if that's a bit confusing for you, the border management team is out there to clear up any questions about where to go. And up until this morning, things were running smoothly.
Ken Gladden, Site Management, Border Management
"It has been going very smoothly I would say, we don't have a big crowd but I think by weekend we should be having a big crowd so then I expect we might have a bit of rushing but we basically want to say that any Belizean that come to the border you need to abide by the rules out here at border management premise."
And Belizeans have been counting down the days to be able to cross into Chetumal again. Today, while some went for shopping purposes, others went for medical and business purposes.
Resident Crossing Border
"Personally I can come and buy my stuff for my shop, I'm coming businesswise because we have a disadavantage, some supplies, they had to bring their money to the cargo, we used to depend on Mexican to do our shopping and for most of us it was a disadavantage because we are not getting our monies worth, some suppliers got, well, many Mexicans took advantage that we depended on them and we didn't get our monies worth so for mee it's good because I know what my customers want, what they ask for, so I could go and personally do my shopping for my shop."
Resident Crossing Border
"We're going over to seek medical attention for stones, that's the reason why we're going. And at the same time we'll do a little bit of going around to see how Chetumal city looks again."
Reporter
"So is it exciting for you that the borders are open again?"
Resident Crossing Border
"Yeah, it's good, but we believe that they should really have measures in place so that we can avoid the transmission of Omicron, Delta, COVID."
Reporter
"Did you used to go to chet a lot before this?"
Resident Crossing Border
"Yes we used to go maybe once a week."
Belizean Crossing Border
"Today I'm crossing for my baby, who is sick. It's for medical purposes I'm going to Chetumal. I am very happy the border open, I could go to Chetumal to check my baby."
Reporter
"Do you feel safe with the processes that have been implemented?"
Belizean Crossing Border
"Yes it's safe, everything is fine, everything is very good, by the rules."
But while he feels that the process is fine, one Belizean had an issue, and had to turn back to stamp his Ministry of Health issued card.
Belizean Crossing Border
"I filled it out, they told it's to so that I don't need to get a test when I come in, fine I filled it out, I did everything, I came back and I gave it to the people and they took it and they look at it, they did everything and they told me go on, you're okay. I had another guy with me, an American guy that I came to pick up, so he's over there, when I try to enter the border now, they told me go back, this is not good, they have to stamp it. But then I mean, look like theses people don't know what they're doing, at least maybe they haven't gotten it together yet."
Reporter
"So the process isn't smooth yet?"
Belizean Crossing Border
"Exactly. Because how much time they will turn people back up and down, this way?"
But still, Belizeans are glad that they were able to cross and just like them, the peseros at the border are ecstatic to be at work again.
Pesero
"Very good, we're happy but sad at the same time because one of our colleague family member is ill. We couldn't work during that time, they didn't allow us to work, so we were at home sitting doing nothing."
And one Chetumal hotel is giving Belizean a warm welcome with discounted rates.
Nedia Alvaran, Hotel Los Cocos
"We are very happy the employees just as the owners that it's been approximately two years that the Belizeans have not come around and we miss them. We appreciate Belizeans for choosing our hotels. And we are extremely happy that they are returning back to us."
"We are offering a special on hotel rates that the standard room is 1,300 pesos and for the Belizeans that rate is 850 pesos which approximately with the exchange rate is 106 per night."
And up until 4pm today, 893 Belizeans crossed the Santa Elena border, however, this number includes both Freezone workers and those who went over to Chetumal.
The borders close at 10 every night and reopen at 6 in the morning.
