Ambassador Arnold Urges Car Dealers: Delay Mexico Drive

Tonight, a word of caution for Belizean car dealers traveling through Mexico, pump your brakes. Belize’s Ambassador to Mexico, Oscar Arnold, is urging dealers who are currently in the U.S. to hold off on driving back home for a few more days. He says the situation on key Mexican routes is still settling down after cartel roadblocks were thrown up in the wake of the killing of infamous cartel leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera. Yes, Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, has told officials that authorities have regained control of the affected areas, but Arnold says that doesn’t mean it’s smooth sailing just yet. His message is simple, why take the risk? Give it a little more time and let security conditions stabilize before making the long drive south.

 

Oscar Arnold, Belize’s Ambassador to Mexico

“We would advise any car dealers if you are at the border to wait a few days, stay there a few days longer. I know it will cost them a little bit more with hotel and food, but it would be easier to do so. This morning on the press conference that President Sheinbaum did they said that they have looked at all the areas, addressed all the blockages and regained control of those areas where there were blockages or where there were major or significant blockage yesterday. But my advice would be, any car dealer that is coming down to wait a few more days to ensure that things are even more calm and then to make your journey to try to get home.”

 

Belizean Car Dealers Pause Amid Mexico’s Chaos

 

Belizean car dealers are also keeping a close eye on the unrest unfolding in Mexico, as cartel‑related violence continues to ripple through key travel routes. Many dealers who source vehicles from the United States are now in a holding pattern, waiting for the all‑clear that Ambassador Oscar Arnold says could still be days away. Among them is Tevonne Phillips, owner of Accelerate Belize, who knows the long road home better than most. He told News Five that several of his colleagues are still parked in place, literally, because safety has always been the biggest concern when crossing Mexico. For now, they’re watching, waiting, and hoping conditions stabilize before they get back on the road.

 

Tevonne Phillips, Owner, Accelerate Belize

“My personal last trip was in December. I did two trips in December. That was a high pace month for me. I have one of my transporters who went up in January for two vehicles for me, Jose. I don’t have any trip currently planned, but from the feedback we are getting, right now, Maria the broker that I use she was not letting anybody cross up until maybe Tuesday. But that is not a definite that you are going to cross Tuesday. You have to monitor the situation in Mexico and see what will be the outcome. And then she will decide. At the end of the day, Maria is one of those brokers who have you back in any situation. Her first thing is always safety for us Belizeans especially because she has a good relationship with us. So, her thing is always safety, safety, safety. If she does not feel safer and her correspondence is not giving her the tombs up to move any operation then she halts until an all clear. Mexico dah Mexico, any number could play in Mexico. For me I understand how this thing works. These guys do what they need to do to survive. Our job is to follow the rules, regulations and simply abide by whatever structure they have in place. There are instances you get robbed. There are instances somebody come brush you a little five hundred peso, a thousand pesos. But from my experience, I have never gotten one of those violent experience where an M-16 is in your face. They stop you on the road but we understand that at the end of the day deh bally want deh piece and you trod on. If you try fight that you are creating an uproar that is not necessary. So, that is my experience, other guys can tell you different.”

 

In short, if you’re planning that road trip back to Belize with vehicles, the safest move right now is to wait it out.

 

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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