Over the New Year’s Day weekend, almost 200 persons were arrested and charged for a series of offenses under the Quarantine Regulations. Those included more than 50 for failing to wear a face mask while in public. Among those were three tourists from the United States of America. 52-year-old writer Jennifer Heckman was arrested along with another writer, 54-year-old Jeffery Heckman and 58-year-old Jeffery Garcea, a writer and construction worker, for failing to wear a face (mouth) mask or other covering. According to police reports, the trio was found on San Pedro, Ambergris Caye on January 1, 2021 while none of them were wearing a mouth covering in public. As a result, they were each arrested and charged for the offense. Due to the absence of a magistrate on the island, they were taken before Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford in the Belize City. They all pleaded guilty and were each offered the newly installed mandatory fine of $500, which they were all able to pay forthwith. After paying their fines, they were free to go.
