COROZAL DISTRICT, Fri. Jan. 22, 2021– According to government officials, the Corozal Free Zone (CFZ) is set to be opened on February 1, 2021, to Mexican nationals. As previously reported, the Government of Belize and the stakeholders inside the CFZ have agreed to carry out some retrofitting of the facility and to implement COVID-19 prevention measures in order to fast-track the opening of the free zone.

It was agreed that the owners of the businesses inside the CFZ would bear the cost of implementing these measures.

Hon. Jose Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, told the media that they are reviewing the measures that are to be put in place to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus within the CFZ. He also shared that each business will have to be verified as an enterprise that has met the standards and been given approval to resume operations before the opening of the Corozal Free Zone. He is hopeful that this can still be done within the timeline set out by Cabinet.

Business owners within the CFZ have most likely begun preparations for the reopening, but the Acting Director of Health Services, Dr. Melissa Diaz-Musa, told local media that the reopening is not “set in stone as yet.” She explained that the Ministry of Health and Wellness will still have to visit the CFZ to give further recommendations regarding the safe reopening of the CFZ.

She outlined that the CFZ will need to have all recommendations put forward by the Ministry of Health and Wellness properly in place before reopening. That means that the reopening date of February 1 is still somewhat tentative.