Commuters in Belize City are expressing vehement frustration over significant traffic disruptions caused by police checkpoints during peak morning hours. The checkpoint established near Haulover Bridge along the Philip Goldson Highway has created substantial delays, impacting workers and students attempting to reach their destinations promptly.
Multiple drivers have turned to social media platforms to voice their grievances, reporting severe traffic backups first observed on Friday and recurring this morning. One commuter highlighted the severity of the situation, noting that traffic congestion extended from Haulover to Lee Bit before Manatee Lookout, causing widespread tardiness among employees and schoolchildren.
Another frustrated driver informed local news outlets that the situation has progressively worsened, with travel times reaching approximately 30 minutes to cover every two miles during these operations.
In response to the growing public outcry, Transport Department CEO Chester Williams clarified that transport officers were not responsible for implementing these checkpoints. Williams emphasized that official departmental policy prohibits transport personnel from conducting highway checkpoints during critical commuting periods—specifically between 7-9 AM and 4:30-6 PM—to avoid impeding travelers’ schedules.
Williams acknowledged the ongoing coordination challenges with police authorities, stating, “There remain instances where police conduct checkpoints during these critical hours, and we have no jurisdictional control over such operations.” The Transport Department continues to seek improved inter-agency coordination to prevent future occurrences of these rush hour disruptions.