By Belize Live News Staff: Spooner’s Reggae Café has dropped all charges against a retired nurse who was unable to pay her bill and has issued a public apology, expressing regret over how the situation was handled. The incident, which sparked backlash across social media and the wider community, has become a flashpoint for conversations about mental health, dignity, and how businesses should respond to hardship.
In its statement, the café acknowledged that it was unaware of the woman’s mental condition at the time and admitted that the situation called for greater sensitivity than was shown. “Our intention was never to criminalize hardship,” the café wrote, adding that the decision to involve law enforcement was made in the context of repeated incidents, not just this one.
The statement emphasizes the difficulty of balancing compassion with accountability, especially as a small business trying to protect staff and resources. “This is clearly an incident that could have happened at any business,” the team stated, while recognizing that their response missed the mark.
The café thanked the public for speaking out and acknowledged the role of community outrage in prompting reflection and change. “Your outrage and input has not fallen on deaf ears. It has challenged us, humbled us, and pushed us to do better,” the team wrote.
