Cabinet Agrees to State of Emergency
Chester Williams
ComPol Williams says the cabinet agreed that the best option to deal with the spike in gang-related crimes is to instate an S.O.E., considering the fact that the police have been unable to gather sufficient evidence through witnesses and victims for arrests to be made. But, the Briceño Administration has long criticized using state of emergencies to quell the increase of gang activities in south side Belize City. We know that the Commissioner of Police was in a meeting with the Prime Minister today, so we asked him what his communication has been like with PM Briceño on this latest S.I.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“We had our ordinary national security council meeting today. And, that was not to discuss the SOE any at all. Let me say that, nobody including me would have wanted to reach this stage where we have to institute a state of emergency. I always tried my utmost best to resolve the street feuds through diplomacy or by way of the law where we can arrest and charge people. But, where we have situations where the victims and witnesses are not forthcoming, then the perpetrators remain on the streets knowing that nothing could be done to them in the absence of anybody giving statements against them. And so they are emboldened by that to do more. And so, while this is not what we want to do, at this time, The Belizeans people are on edge. Some people are fearful to move around in their own communities because of these gang members. And, we have to act in the best interest of our people.”
Paul Lopez
“Is the fact that we have now had to instate another SOE, is this perhaps an indictment on your approach to crime-fighting and addressing this issue in Southside Belize City.”
Chester Williams
“The issue of fighting crime is not the sole responsibility of the police. What happened shows that our society has changed. Our society has developed a propensity for violence. And, the police duty is to investigate, gather evidence, arrest, and charge. As I have said before, while we know who the perpetrators are, the witnesses are not cooperating. So, we are not able to get the evidence to charge those persons who are responsible. So, how could it be, it has to do with my approach? I am not the one parenting these thugs. I am not the one influencing them. Yes, I try my best to influence them in a positive way. But, at the end of the day, I cannot force them to listen to me.”
S.I. eighty-nine affects ten areas across south side Belize City. The state of emergency will be in effect for the next thirty days unless revoked.
