B.C.C.I. donation improves police communications
The Police Department’s crime-fighting initiative has received a major shot in the arm with some new communication equipment. The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry answered the cop’s call for assistance to set up a nationwide radio network that would allow private security firms to stay in touch with the police twenty-four hours a day. Chairlady of the Chamber’s Anti-crime Committee, Cynthia Awe, says since crime affects everyone, the business community was more than willing to chip in to make project “Guard Net” a reality.
Cynthia Awe, Chair., B.C.C.I. Anti-Crime Committee
“It’s actually ten base radios that will be mounted on existing police mast, with four in other populated regions such as Central Farm, Benque, Mango Creek, Big Creek area. The whole idea of this is really to reduce crime. We were approached by Mr. Usher, the C.E.O. of the Ministry of Home Affairs and asked whether we could assist them. It’s something that they have been planning and talking about for quite some time and the Chamber felt it was something that we wanted to do, having embarked on an anti-crime raising of funds some months back. I believe it was last year November we approached the public at large the business people and asked them for donations. We felt that the crime was impacting on everybody, even more so the business people, and they came big time for us.”
Patrick Jones
“When you handed over the donation, I heard you challenge the Commissioner to put them to good news.”
Cynthia Awe
“I don’t know if the word challenge is the right one, but often we make rules and we implement situations and they are not enforced. And to me it’s no use putting on what we hope could become a reality if they are not enforced. I hope that it wasn’t taken as a challenge, but really as something to look upon on a positive way to make sure that it is done. Because at the end of the day what we want to do is to curtail on crime, that’s the important thing that the Chamber is looking at.”
The radios are valued at approximately twelve thousand dollars and the donation was accepted by Commissioner of Police, Jose Carmen Zetina. But the Chamber’s donation was not the only gift that the police received. The Taiwanese Community also came a-calling with equipment designated for the Department’s Crime Intelligence Unit. The donation included a printer, fax machine and filing cabinets. The donation from the Chinese Association was handed over by Lee Mark Chang.
