So as you saw in that final recap of Mas Camp visits, Carnival goers are very ready for the road on Saturday. But while we party, the police are under pressure to make sure pace and calm prevail on a day that is laden with security risks - from the reckless abandon of jouver't to the mass gatherings of the Carnival road march.
So how will the Police department make sure peace prevails and that both revelers and bystanders are safe?
This morning, Sr Supt Calbert Flowers walked us through this year's Rules of the Road for Carnival 2023. Jomarie Lanza Reports
With the bustle of carnival preparations in the city tonight, public safety is a top priority for the Belize Police Department. And they have begun to deploy enhanced security measures to ensure the safety of citizens and revelers as the anticipated Jouvert transitions into Carnival day.
Calbert Flowers Sr Supt., OPS Office, Staff Officer
"The police department has been planning for some months now leading up to the September Celebrations which have already started. This weekend approaching we will be having some of the major events particularly here in Belize City starting from tonight leading into the carnival Jouvert and culminating with the big carnival road March tomorrow afternoon. The police department has been getting prepared and believes that we are fully ready and capable to police these major events. Belize city is one of our major concerns and we believe that Belize city police is properly staffed and equipped to police these major functions. However notwithstanding that we are bringing in additional support from the headquarters in Belmopan as well as additional personnel from the different operational units within the police department from Belmopan City."
We all know that parking can be a problem on Carnival day, and that's why the department warns that those who fail to park properly will have their vehicle towed.
Calbert Flowers Sr Supt., OPS Office, Staff Officer
"We ask especially for the Carnival and Jouvert that owners of motor vehicles be really mindful of where they are parking. Because parking of a vehicle is a big obstruction to us. We have our police tow truck that will be in the city in Belize city in Particular and it will be driving the route and any vehicle obstructing the free flow of traffic will be towed away and the payment will be on the responsibility of the owner. So we ask again for the owners of motor vehicles to work along with us."
And while public drinking is not prohibited this weekend, Flowers strongly advises the public to refrain from taking glass bottles into the street. In addition to this, licensed firearm holders should leave their weapons at home.
Calbert Flowers Sr Supt., OPS Office, Staff Officer
"We ask that we refrain from drinking our beverages in pint bottles. We ask that we use plastic cups so again our police officers will be alert and we will be looking for these things. We'll have large crowds of people gathering. We know that we have people out there with licensed firearms. We ask that we do not carry these firearms in these crowds. It is prohibited for license seen firearm holders to have their firearms on them at these major activities that will be having crowds. It is prohibited to have your license firearm with you while you are consuming alcohol it is an offense to be under the influence while in possession of your firearm."
And so what will be a day of revelry and partying for many Belizeans, police want you to party or observe in peace - in a day that they have choreographed to be as incident free as possible.
Sources tell us that between Jouvert and carnival close to 400 police officers will be assigned in total to those events.
