2 New Booths Installed at Police Checkpoints
Eastern Division South Regional Commander Howell Gillett has been on the grind installing police booths across the Old Capital, particularly the south side. According to the Senior Superintendent, the purpose is to improve the working conditions for police officers by replacing makeshift shelters and tents currently being used at checkpoints across the city with assistance from a corporate citizen. Today, two new booths were installed and News Five’s Duane Moody was there. Here’s that report.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Two new police booths were installed earlier today at the corner of Vernon and Mayflower Streets and at the intersection of Louise Bevans and Freedom Streets on south side Belize City. Valued at two thousand, five hundred dollars each, the new checkpoint buildings are replacing tents which were inadequate for policing efforts. These newly installed structures provide better conditions for on-duty officer who are exposed to the elements.
Howell Gillett
Sr. Supt. Howell Gillett, Regional Commander, Eastern Division South
“The larger plan is to replace all the tents with booths because we are in the mid of the hurricane season/rainy season and officers continue to complain that they are exposed to the elements and at wee hours of the night. And so we have to be doing something for them because how can we get optimum production if we don’t rerate the enabling environment for them, create the correct working environment for them. So this is just part of our way of saying thank you for what you are doing and we as the administrators, as the leaders, we are looking after your welfare.”
In this tranche of installations, Central TV and Internet partnered with the Police Department to purchase the booths. According to Christopher Hudson, it is part of the cable company’s corporate social responsibility, especially so since it helps with citizen security.
Christopher Hudson
Christopher Hudson, Network Manager, Central TV & Internet
“We believe that community policing is very important and it is the company’s hope that the donation of these two booths will aid the police department in assisting the public and create a safer future for Belize generally. And we would like to thank the police department for offering us the opportunity to partner with them with this donation. So long story short, it will generally uplift the community and the company sees it as something whereas we could really put off a good image.”
According to Senior Superintendent Howell Gillett, these two booths bring the total to five across the Old Capital. Going forward, he says that there is need to install another booth in the Conch Shell Bay area.
Sr. Supt. Howell Gillett
“It is the fifth. We wanted to put one also at Conch Shell Bay, but we are waiting for a letter from the City Council because it will be on part of the street and we want to be doing the right thing. The City Council is working with us to have that. So very soon, the next tranche of booths; one of them will be going to Conch Shell Bay.”
Installation services were provided free of cost, courtesy of Habet and Habet. Duane Moody for News Five.
