Belize

Belize: Violence Up Especially in Central and Western Regions

Date: July 16th, 2008 |

The U.S. Embassy in Belmopan warned U.S. travelers to “take an active role in their own personal security” because of recent increases in violent crime in the central and western regions of the country. San Ignacio, Benque Viejo and rural villages in the Cayo District are particularly troubled and crime is high and often violent [read more]

Belize: Armed Robberies Near Guatemala Border

Date: June 2nd, 2006 |

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Two armed robberies of tourist groups within a month, the most recent May 15, were the latest in a string of almost monthly ambushes to occur in the Mountain Pine Ridge and Chiquibul Forest reserves. The bandits held up the groups in remote areas on Caracol Road and at Rio Frio Caves. Police believe the [read more]

Caribbean

Date: September 7th, 2004 |

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While the Caribbean is being battered by a severe hurricane season, another storm is brewing involving cruise ships and the ports where they release their thousands of passengers. The increasing size of ships has created a tsunami of tourists overwhelming many of the ports they visit. Belize has moved to limit arrivals to 8,000 a [read more]

Belize

Date: October 16th, 2001 |

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Hurricane Iris struck southern Belize Oct. 8 causing severe damage to roads, electricity and water supplies and destroying 95 percent of the buildings in 35 villages. Repairs could take weeks, but other areas of the country escaped significant damage, including Belize City. Twenty-one deaths from the hurricane occurred when a U.S.-chartered dive boat sank in [read more]

Belize

Date: July 24th, 2001 |

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Hurricane Keith caused extensive flooding in Belize and threatened areas of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and northern Guatemala. Peace Corps volunteers were moved to central locations and non-emergency U.S. Embassy personnel were permitted to leave. Defer travel to the region until the full extent of the hurricane’s impact has been [read more]

Caribbean: Hurricane Dean Misses Major Tourist Sites

Date: August 22nd, 2007 |

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Category 5 Hurricane Dean churned through the Caribbean and Mexico Aug. 19-22 causing extensive property damage but generally sparing tourism facilities. Jamaica took a glancing blow, with the north coast resorts suffering little damage and airports fully functioning again. The Cayman Islands largely escaped with just wind damage. In Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Dean hit land [read more]

Belize

Date: April 26th, 2005 |

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A labor dispute with workers for Belize Telecommunications Limited over ownership shares of the national phone system flared into clashes with police in Belize City and resulted in sabotage of phone lines that cut all telephone, fax and internet service for three days. ATMs were shut down and the borders with Mexico and Guatemala were [read more]

Belize

Date: July 9th, 2002 |

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Crime in Belize has increased in recent years, with more reported in Belize City than in other areas. Armed robbers have targeted popular Mayan archaeological sites near the border with Guatemala, and visitors should travel in groups and stick to the main plazas and tourist sites. Thieves have been known to prey on visitors walking [read more]

Belize

Date: August 15th, 2001 |

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A dispute at the border with Guatemala has occurred because Belizean troops shot and killed a Guatemalan man near the border. Each side says the man was killed on its side of the border, and Belizean authorities say the incident occurred on an illegal marijuana plantation. The border area was the site of hostilities for [read more]