Corporal Arzu Files Lawsuit against ComPol Williams

Eldon Arzu

An application for a claim to be brought against Commissioner of Police Chester Williams was presented before Justice Shona Griffith this afternoon in Belize City.  Corporal Eldon Arzu, the embattled president of the Police Association, is filing a lawsuit against ComPol Williams who has signed a statutory instrument limiting the term of office for the head of the organization.  Corporal Arzu has been at the helm of the Police Association since April 2012 and was re-elected as president on January ninth.  In an interview with the media last Wednesday, ComPol Williams spoke briefly on the endorsement of the S.I., only to say that it was drafted under the tenure of his predecessor.  Since there wasn’t an issue with the piece of subordinate legislation, ComPol Williams signed it into effect, however, it severely restricts Arzu or his successor’s ability to run for office beyond a second term.  Executive members Jermaine Hyde, Holman Katanegie and Jane Usher have distanced themselves from the claim on the grounds that there is a history of dodgy practices, as well as total disregard for the association’s rules.  Following today’s session, attorney Stacey Grinage addressed the media.

Stacey Grinage

Stacey Grinage, Attorney for Police Association

“We filed an application for permission to commence a judicial review claim against the Commissioner of Police based on certain decisions he made which were conveyed to Corporal Arzu and we thought, well we think that there were some errors in coming to those decisions and we applied, we have to apply for permission first for judicial review.  So that is what we were here for.  We had an exchange in court and we will need to amend our application further and so we will be returning, we have a further date to return once it’s amended.”

Reporter

“So basically what remedy are you seeking from the court?”

Stacey Grinage

“We’re seeking the administrative remedies of certiorari and prohibition to have the commissioner’s decision quashed.”

Isani Cayetano

“Can you share with us those dates once again?”

Stacey Grinage

“We have to, we will, we asked to amend our application and we will have that filed by April eighth and the respondent will have an opportunity to respond and we return to court May sixth.  So on May sixth we return back to court.”

Reporter

“I don’t know if you would permit me but it appeared as though the judge was not in agreement with some of the submissions you were attempting to make.”

Stacey Grinage

“I don’t think it reached that point of whether she was in agreement or not.  I think she had some questions, some preliminary questions that were put to our side.”