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Since yesterday several boats have had to been turn back from coming from San Pedro to Caye Caulker with people, if you see any boats coming from San Pedro please call the police immediately.
We know the island of San Pedro is on lock down and in a state of emergency and these people can be fined.
Thank you

Caye Caulker Village Council

The Caye Caulker Health Team and the Police Department held a meeting this morning at 9:00 a.m. and we will be joining forces to ensure that social distancing is adhere to and with the new S.I. pass warnings will be conducted today and there after, the police department will bring forth charges.

The public health inspector will be monitoring all business places to ensure that the social distancing is being adhere to. Please do not send out your child after 6 p.m., and if you can have an adult do the errands, as is stated in the S.I. As a community, we must do our part to safeguard our families and community.
Thank you

Caye Caulker Village Council workers are going around sanitizing the village. Photos by Wendy Auxillou

Caye C's Covid Scenario

While we were on Caye Caulker, we also spoke with the Chair of the Village Council about how this island is coping with the pandemic.

Last year, they were chosen as the BTB's #1 Tourism Destination. As a community that also depends heavily on tourism as its main income earner, Caye Caulker is also experiencing the same financial ruin that other top destinations around the country are faced with.

The Chairlady told us that the islanders are doing their best to look after their needs in this time of crisis:

Seleny Villanueva-Pott - Chair, Caye Caulker Village Council
"Some of the fishermen have said outright, you know, this is not the first time we've seen this. Before tourism, it was strictly fishing, and we made it. They said they can resort to fishing. It's just a phase we have to re-adjust to, [like] in the old days. But, I'm sure we'll get through it."

Reporter
"What is the percentage of economic activity that's purely focused on tourism on Caye Caulker?"

Seleny Villanueva-Pott
"I'd say about 90. That is what fuels Caye Caulker's economy. So, we're really feeling this right now."

"Most of the restaurants are now closed down. A lot of the hotels have shut down. Whatever support we've needed locally, we've gotten locally, and I must thank the Caye Caulker business community for their tremendous support. We've got housing for Coast Guards from the business community. We've gotten equipment needed from the business community. One business member actually donated all 10 oxygen tanks to us. Our isolation area has been given to us free of charge. We retrofitted the building. We've got a new AC for the building. So, we are working locally, and whatever GOB comes with will be additional. But we've learned to take care of ourselves."

"I must extend deep gratitude to the small health team that we have here on the island. I think they've done a tremendous job with that. It's just for us to fine-tune it. Since the Ministry of Health is here, we're going to fine-tune it today. And we move from there, hoping for the best, hoping that we don't have to use it, but preparing for the worst."

Health Inspectors on Caye Caulker

The residents of Caye Caulker are hoping that they won't have to be concerned with any COVID-19 cases being discovered in the island village. But, as you've heard, they have taken precautions for that worst-case scenario, and a team of medical professionals from the Central Health Region traveled there yesterday to inspect their quarantine and isolation facilities.

We got a chance to speak with the team leader about the vigilance that the Ministry of Health is maintaining on the island:

Melinda Guerra - Regional Manager, Central Health Region
"We are here today as a team. As you can see, a number of us are here. We just came to make sure that we have our plan in place here at the Caye Caulker Health Center, and for the community. Today, we have an infection control nurse. She's going to be doing the PPE training for medical personnel. We are also going to meeting with the chairlady to make ensure that we have our isolation area, and quarantine area prepared, in the event that we have any positive COVID case, or if we have any suspected case that we need to isolate."

Reporter
"How prepared is Caye Caulker for something like this? We know that it's only a health center that's here."

Melinda Guerra
"I must say that when it comes to primary health care, we are fully prepared. We have carried out extensive health education when it comes to prevention measures that should be taken, that every individual should take. We also have ensured that we have the needed materials and supplies in the event that we have any positive cases. The main thing that we have to make sure [of] is that the Caye Caulker community remains COVID-19 negative, that we have no case here on the island. I think that's our main objective, but in the event that we have any positive case, I think that we are going to be prepared with the same response that we're having in San Pedro."

Part of yesterday's inspection included training for the Caye Caulker medical staff about using personal protective equipment and the best practices for keeping themselves safe on the job from COVID-19.

Channel 7

COVID-19 and Caye Caulker: Village Council and volunteers handling the crisis alone

Ambergris Caye's sister island Caye Caulker has seen its share of struggles in the fight against COVID-19, which has severely impacted the national economy. Like Ambergris Caye, tourism was the main fuel of Caye Caulker's economy and with its absence, many have lost jobs and are in dire situations. Allegedly, government has yet to render any assistance, and the Caye Caulker Village Council (CCVC), along with volunteers and donors have been doing their best to assist the most vulnerable islanders with meals and groceries. On Thursday, April 16th, the CCVC detailed how their relief program has been tending to the less fortunate in these difficult times.

Chairlady Seleny Villanueva-Pott spoke to The San Pedro Sun, referring to the Village Council's social media post explaining Caye Caulker's relief efforts since the beginning of the month. With the increase in COVID-19 cases on the mainland, the transportation of food supplies to the island has been more stringent, but the CCVC and its partners have been able to help as much as they can. According to the CCVC, families are screened with the aim to target those most in need to get the help. Once they are identified, they are contacted and told when volunteers and Councillors will be around delivering bags with goods. The CCVC indicated that they have used their limited funds to obtain some of the goods and the rest has come from donations within the island by the Chinese Community, the Caye Caulker COVID Assistance Team founded by Attorney-at-law Wendy Auxillou, and island residents. Caye Caulker also received a large cargo donation of goods from San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi Company worth around $15,000 BZ.

Click here to read the rest of the article in the San Pedro Sun

UPDATE ON COVID-19 AS IT PERTAINS TO CAYE CAULKER



Caye Caulker Coronavirus (Non-emergency triage/ information) hotline: 600-9539