Three American tourists appeared at the Magistrate Court in Belize City on Monday, January 4th, after being arrested and charged for failure to wear a face mask on New Year’s Day while in San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye.
The trio, 52-year-old Jennifer Heckman, 54-year-old Jeffery Heckman, and 58-year-old Jeffery Garcea, were reportedly on Sea Grape Drive when police caught them without face masks.
All three tourists were taken to Belize City after the New Year’s weekend, where they appeared before Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford where they pled guilty and were fined BZ$500 each for the offense.
They had to pay the fine forthwith or, in default, serve five months in prison.
The Heckmans’ and Garcea were able to meet the fine and were set free.
The detainees told authorities they were not just tourists but also writers currently vacationing in Belize.
According to the government of Belize STATUTORY INSTRUMENT No. 95 of 2020 4.– (1) For the purposes of preventing, controlling, containing, and suppressing the spread of the infectious disease COVID-19 every person shall wear a face mask or other face (nose and mouth) covering at all times, provided that children under the age of six years old shall not be required to wear a face mask or other face (nose and mouth) covering.
