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Travel Warnings
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While
most
visits
to Belize are trouble-free, violent crime can be a
problem. It is confined mainly
to Belize City, but serious
crimes, some targeting tourists, also occur in the Mountain Pine Ridge
area and
the ruins near the Guatemalan border. The use of common sense to avoid
dangerous
situations.
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Click any Pictures to enlarge
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Travel Health
Dengue
Haemorrhagic
Fever
Outbreack
In
Belize there is always the possibility to catch Dengue. We had
since October 2009 a few cases in Ambergris Caye. Whenever it rains,
the water that settles becomes a potential breeding ground for the
Aedes Egypti mosquito.
Adult females lay their eggs in water, after 5–14 days, depending on
the species and the ambient temperature; eggs hatch to become larvae,
then pupae. The adult mosquito emerges from the pupa as it floats at
the water surface. Adults live for 4–8 weeks.
Dengue carrying mosquitoes bite
mostly during dawn (5-9am) and dusk (6-10pm), so it is recommended
retraining from outdoor activities during peak.
Invest in insect repelling lotions and only stay in rooms with screens
on windows and doors. Burning mosquito coils or candles formulated with
mosquito repellents or using electric mats that vaporize pyrethroid
insecticides also may avoid overnight exposure to insects.
For Detail Information on the Belize Health System use our
health site. Belize
Health-Care
and
Medical System
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Safety and Security
Visitors should exercise caution and
good judgment when visiting Belize. Crime can be a serious
problem
(see Crime), particularly in Belize City and remote areas. Road
accidents are common (see Traffic Safety and Road Conditions).
Public buses and taxis are
frequently in poor condition and lack safety equipment. Medical
care
is limited as described in our Belize
Health
Page.
Boats serving the
public, especially water taxis, often do not carry sufficient safety
equipment, may carry an excess number of passengers, and may sail in
inclement weather. Rental diving equipment may not always be
properly
maintained or inspected, and some local dive masters fail to consider
the skill levels of individual tourists when organizing dives to some
of Belize’s more challenging sites. Deaths and serious mishaps have
occurred as a result of negligent diving tour operators and the lack of
strict enforcement of tour regulations.
We recommends
that anyone interested in scuba diving and snorkeling while in Belize
check the references, licenses, and equipment of tour operators before
agreeing to or paying for a tour. Both tour guides and boat
captains
are now required to be licensed by the Government of Belize.
- Before walking or driving into a business
(particularly banks, gas stations and shopping plazas), restaurant,
parking lot, etc; perform a quick visual check to see if anything seems
out of the ordinary. You do not want to walk into a business or drive
into a gas station during an armed robbery. If somethingseems wrong –
it probably is.
- Belize City
is relatively small and neighborhoods of different qualities are close
to each other and easily transitable. Regardless, generally speaking,
the area of Belize City south of the
Belize River should not be visited, particularly at night
or while alone, with the exception of daytime visits to the downtown
area immediately across from the Swing Bridge at the end of Queen
Street.
- Should you find yourself the victim of a
robbery or
other crime, only you can decide your course of action; however,
material items can be replaced and it is generally preferable that you
comply with a robber’s instructions. It is always best to leave
valuables and large amounts of cash locked up in a secure location.
- Moving about in groups, staying in well-lit
areas,
avoiding short-cuts, dressing and acting conservatively, and most
importantly, being aware of what is going on around you and avoiding
risky or volatile situations, are some of the most common measures.
- Assailants tend to prey on people who appear
preoccupied or confused, so the primary rule of street smarts is to
stay
alert and aware of your surroundings.
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Business
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The Belize
Government generally welcomes foreign investment that results in
diversification of the economic base, employment opportunities, foreign
exchange earnings and savings, and the transfer of technology and
skills. In less-developed areas of the country, the Belize government
normally gives special consideration through various fiscal incentives.
There are many property disputes involving foreign investors and
landowners because it is often difficult to trace reliably the
ownership history or specific boundaries of land holdings. Financing is
Belize is expensive. Interest rates in Belize are relatively high.
Current prime lending rates of local banks are high. Average personal
lending rates were over 16.0% and commercial lending rates were over
14%.
Whether a foreign investor or company plans to invest in a business,
sell, or buy property in Belize, it is always advisable that they seek
background information on their local partner, conduct title searches
on the property, and
conduct careful due diligence.
Bad and poor Business Experience Sharing
If you like to do Business with one of the following persons, you may
first consider sending us an E-Mail and we can share our experience:
Amador Marin
Con Artist (Kung Fu Instructor, of the Shaolin Martial Arts School and
Security Guard), Horace Gilbert Bladon
and Sarah Bladon, Marvin Duarte
(Draftsman), Billy Harmouch
(S.P. Hardware) all five living in
San Pedro on Ambergris Caye.
Note:
The Paragraph above is in line with the
constitution of Belize, Part VI Section 74. Freedom of speech. For
this reason, we will not remove any information from the paragraph
above. Further we can share information how to get money back from a
dishonest business man, with the support of the Belize court.
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Crime
The incidence of
crime, including violent crimes such
as armed robbery, shooting, stabbing, murder, and rape, is on the
rise. The Embassy has noted an increase in recent years in
reports of
crimes against tourists at resorts and on the roadways and river
ways.
The incidence of crimes such as theft, burglary, purse-snatching, and
pick-pocketing rises around the winter holidays and spring break.
Several victims who resisted when confronted by criminals have received
serious personal injuries, including gunshot wounds. Although the
majority of reported incidents are in Belize City, crime occurs in all
districts including tourist spots such as San Pedro, Caye Caulker, and
Placencia.
Sexual harassment
and/or assault of females traveling alone or in small groups have
occurred in 2007 One of these occurred after the victim
accepted a lift from an acquaintance, while others have occurred during
armed robberies in resort areas. One of these assaults has
resulted in
the death of the victim.
We recommends that
visitors travel in groups and only in
daylight hours,
stay off the streets after dark, in urban and rural areas, and avoid
wearing jewelry, or carrying valuable or expensive items. As a
general
rule, valuables should not be left unattended, including in hotel rooms
and on the beach. Care should be taken when carrying high value
items
such as cameras, or when wearing expensive jewelry on the street.
Women’s handbags should be zipped and held close to the body. Men
should carry wallets in their front pants pocket. Large amounts
of
cash should always be handled discreetly.
If traveling by taxi,
use only vehicles with green
license plates, do not get in a taxi that is occupied by more than the
driver, and do not let the driver pick up additional fares.
Armed
robberies of American tourist groups occurred during the summer of 2006
in the Mountain Pine Ridge and Caracol regions of the western district
of Belize. Due to increased police patrols, coordinated tours
among
resort security managers, and the arrest of two of the "highway
bandits," there have not been any additional robberies since June 2006.
In the past, criminals have targeted popular Mayan archeological sites
in that region. Visitors should travel in groups and should stick
to
the main plazas and tourist sites. Although there are armed
guards
posted at some of the archeological sites, armed criminals have been
known to prey on persons walking from one site to another.
Victims who
resist when confronted by these armed assailants frequently suffer
personal injury.
Travel on rural
roads, especially at night, increases the risk of encountering criminal
activities. Widespread narcotics and alien smuggling activities
can
make remote areas especially dangerous.
Rather
than traveling alone, use a reputable tour organization. It is
best to
stay in groups, travel in a caravan consisting of two or more vehicles,
and stay on the main roads. Ensure that someone not traveling
with you
is aware of your itinerary. Travelers should resist the
temptation to
stay in budget hotels, which are generally more susceptible to crime,
and stay in the main tourist destinations. Do not explore back
roads
or isolated paths near tourist sites. And remember always to pay
close
attention to your surroundings.
Tourist visiting
the Belize-Guatemala border area should consider carefully their
security situation and should travel only during daylight hours.
Vehicles should be in good operating condition, adequately fueled, and
carry communications equipment.
A
lack of resources and training impedes the ability of the police to
investigate crimes effectively and to apprehend serious offenders. As a
result, a number of crimes against Americans in Belize remain
unresolved. Nonetheless, victims of crime should report
immediately to
the police all incidents of assault, robbery, theft, or other
crimes.
Tourists may contact the Belizean tourist police unit as well as the
main police office for assistance.
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Traffic Safety and Road Conditions
Roads in Belize
vary from two-lane paved roads to dirt tracks. The few paved
roads are
high-crowned roads, which can contribute to cars overturning, and have
few
markings or reflectors. Even in urban areas, few streets have
lane
markings, leading many motorists to create as many lanes as possible in
any
given stretch of street or road. Bridges on the major highways
are often
only single lanes. The Manatee Road, leading from the Western
Highway to Dangriga, is unpaved,
easily flooded after storms and without services. The Southern
Highway
from Dangriga to Punta Gorda is mostly completed and in good condition,
except
for a short portion that is under construction. Service stations
are
plentiful along the major roads, although there are some significant
gaps in
the rural areas.
Poor road and vehicle maintenance causes many fatal accidents on
Belizean
roads. Speed limits are 55 miles per hour on most highways and 25
miles
per hour on most other roads, but they are seldom obeyed or even
posted.
Many vehicles on the road do not have functioning safety equipment such
as turn
signals, flashers, or brake lights. Seatbelts for drivers and
front-seat
passengers are mandatory, but child car seats are not required.
Driving
while intoxicated is punishable by a fine; if an alcohol-related
accident
results in a fatality, the driver may face manslaughter charges.
Moreover,
Americans can and have been imprisoned in Belize for accidents, even
where
alcohol is not involved. Unusual local traffic customs include: pulling
to the right before making a
left turn; passing on the right of someone who is signaling a
right-hand turn;
stopping in the middle of the road to talk to someone while blocking
traffic;
carrying passengers, including small children, in the open beds of
trucks; and
tailgating at high speeds.
Bicycles are numerous
and constitute a traffic hazard at all times; bicyclists often ride
contrary to
traffic and do not obey even basic traffic laws such as red lights or
stop
signs. Few bicycles have lights at night. It is common to see
bicyclists
carrying heavy loads or passengers, including balancing small children
on their
laps or across the handlebars. The driver of a vehicle that
strikes a
bicyclist or pedestrian is almost always considered to be at fault,
regardless
of circumstances. Americans who have struck cyclists in Belize
have
faced significant financial penalty or even prison time.
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