Belize City Mayor Calls for Stricter Enforcement Against Drunk Driving

Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner says he’s sick and tired of drunk drivers damaging city property. Wagner’s comment comes after a man crashed into the Philip Goldson bust last weekend. The driver, 34-year-old Mervin Domingo, was charged with driving a motor vehicle above the prescribed alcohol limit. According to Wagner, the incident highlights the issue of drunk driving and the need for greater enforcement. 

Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City: “Our drivers in the city breaking up public infrastructure all across the city. At some point in time they have to begin to take ownership of the breaking up. Every week at city council we have something where someone run into a lamppost light, they run in – man our drivers are reckless. Reckless and we need as a police and as a traffic officers to begin to hold them accountable. Now with the bus it’s unfortunate that occurred at that time of the night. It’s when the Jouvert is starting and everyone is high. So we as leaders in our community have to begin to look at enforcing DUI, drinking and driving. We have to begin to enforce that because the city can’t no longer continue – watch the traffic light at Vernon Street. It was a Dollar Van that ran into that and now caused a whole heap of problems for other residents in the city because of one drunken driver.”

Reporter: So then they’re not required to pay for damage done? 

Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City: “Well, liability could come across in third-party insurance, but the fact of the matter is, man, we as residents have to begin to take ownership and begin to act with some sort of restraint on how we conduct business in the city. And I will continue to preach that I don’t care who gets vexed. If they get vexed they get vexed, you are breaking up the city’s property.”