Kareem Hits the Ground Running as Minister of Home Affairs

Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa kicked off his first day on the job with a tour of two Belize City precincts this morning.  The initiation began with a meeting that was held at the Queen Street Police Station with the brass of the Belize Police Department.  There, he sat down with Commissioner of Police Chester Williams and his team to discuss charting a new way forward for law enforcement.  According to Musa, the introductory session also served to boost the morale of officers.

Kareem Musa

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs & New Growth

“It has been a very eye-opening experience this morning, I got an opportunity to have a very open, frank and candid discussion with the high-ranking members of the police department and it was definitely uplifting, if I can say so for myself, because we can see where there is a boost in morale already, having somebody new as their minister.  I’m not in any way throwing shade on the past minister, I am sure he did a great job as well.  But certainly, the outlook is a positive one; we are getting a fresh opportunity, a fresh start, a new beginning.  Crime in our country is extremely serious, as is the COVID pandemic, as is the economic crisis that we are facing.  And so, 2020 has certainly hurled a lot of curve balls our way but we are ready and we prepared and so I thank the commissioner today for offering me the invitation, for extending the invitation to do a tour of the precincts.  In terms of the strategy moving forward, as you know, part of our manifesto plan, we are now the government for all, not just a political party.  Part of our manifesto is to increase the rank of police department.  It might not be overnight but certainly in the coming years, we want to take it to three thousand as an initial step and thereafter to four thousand.  So definitely we do need more boots on the ground because we are understaffed as is.”