And while police will be playing by the books, the public also has its job to do: there are rules for the public as well. Williams went through them one by one.
Sr. Supt Chester Williams - Commander, Eastern Division Southside
"For members of the public, the importance of ensuring that when you go to the polling station or polling stations, if you are the holder of a license firearm, firearms are prohibited within the polling station. If anyone goes to the polling station with a firearm, if it is license, you will not be allowed to enter the polling station with the firearm. So, our advice is to ensure that these firearms are left at home in a safe and secure location. Secondly, as it relates to the consumption of alcohol, again the law prohibits the sale of alcohol on Election Day until the close of polling stations. After polling stations are closed, yes the stores can open to sell alcohol. But the intoxicating liquor licensing act still applies. In the sense that public drinking is still an offence and it will be enforced. So anyone who is caught public drinking on that day, again they will be dealt with."
"We must understand the reason for the law is that we do not want people to be out there on Election Day behaving drunk and disorderly or even so, a drunken man cannot go and vote reasonably. So I think the law makes good sense to ensure that the process of election is done in a fair manner. So I would emphasize and ask all the residents of Belize City and across the country of Belize to please work with us on that day. Try to abide by the rules and laws to ensure that the process of election goes through smoothly. AT the end of the day when the dust is settled, you will have all the time to enjoy your alcohol and do your celebrations as you may want to."
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