Some Officers were Sent Home
Chester Williams
Commissioner Williams admitted that the department sent home some officers on Tuesday and some more today. He said that between both days, about thirty officers have been sent home, but of that number, many of them have gone to get vaccinated or to get their PCR test done and returned to work. His reasoning is that neither he nor the Minister of Home Affairs has the authority to circumvent the law.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“Myself or the Minister have no legal authority to thwart the law. We cannot delay the implementation of a law. The delay of the implementation of a law must come from the executive or parliament and in the absence of that, we have to abide by the law. So while we have given officers grace period, I’m sure that yourselves and the Belizean public will understand that if officers are not in compliance with the regulation that we have to take action against them. That is the law. I am sure that if it were a case where we were not in compliance and just allowing officers to come to work without complying with the regulation, you same media people would be down our throats saying that we believe we’re above the law and don’t want to enforce the law against ourselves but want to be telling people to abide by the law. Yes, once officers come to work, they’re unvaccinated, they don’t have a negative test, they will be sent home and will be marked absent and will be dealt with in accordance with our disciplinary regulations. That is what the law says. Until the law is challenged and the court can deem the law to be null and void, then, but until that come – which I don’t think it will happen – we continue to do what the law states.”
Williams also dispelled Facebook posts that two new blogs uploaded that police officers in San Pedro and Corozal were sent home and also that the Police Training Academy in Belmopan had been impacted by COVID. He assured that all the recruits have been vaccinated and that the department ensures that its recruits, instructors and other staff comply with the provisions of the regulations.
