A Birthday Celebration With Serious Security Questions

The Corozal Free Zone marked its thirty-first anniversary of operations this weekend, celebrating its contribution to Belize’s economy and job creation at the northern border. But the festivities were overshadowed by allegations circulated on social media claiming cartel links to the event. While those claims remain unsubstantiated, newly appointed Minister responsible for the Free Zone, Henry Charles Usher, says authorities continue to work closely with Mexican counterparts to combat and prevent criminal activity in and around the zone. He also stressed the Free Zone’s importance as a key economic driver in northern Belize.

 

Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Enterprise

“I know that yesterday was the thirty-first anniversary of the free zone. There was a event in there where some of the investors were honored for the work that they have done and for the fact that the free zone remains a, a vital part of the economy in the north, and for Belize on a whole, and it’s something that we have to continue to promote in terms of job creation. 3,000 plus persons working in the in the zone, 333 businesses operating in the zone. So those are the areas that we focused on yesterday.”

 

Reporter

“ How do you treat with the fact that we know the free zone is sometimes used for smuggling and whatnot, and some ministers have had to turn a blind eye or interfere with the paseros?”

 

Henry Charles Usher

“I think that you are making allegations there. I really don’t know what your… where you get that information from. But in terms of anything illegal happening, there are police in the zone. We have other security personnel in the zone, regular patrols happening, and certainly the coordination with the Mexican counterparts is also something that is ongoing. So the zone remains active, remo- the zone remains open, and as I said, it’s a vital part of the northern economy.”

 

The Corozal Free Zone has long been plagued by bad actors involved in the trade of tobacco products, which is a predominantly cash operation.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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