S.O.E. is Targeted, but Will Not Exempt Other Known Gang Members

Chester Williams

A state of emergency encompassing ten hotspots in Belize City is nearing the end of its first week.  As many as forty individuals are on lockdown at the Belize Central Prison, believed to be affiliated with various gangs that have been feuding with each other over the past two months.  According to the Commissioner of Police, the operation that was conducted in the predawn hours of August nineteenth targeted known gang members on the Southside.  While other individuals were spared in the dragnet, the Commissioner of Police said today the scope of the S.O.E. can include other well-known street figures should they revert to crime and violence during this period.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“The state of emergency was not a cast net activity but rather one that was targeted and so, as the minister had said to me, that while yes, we support doing it, we must ensure that it is based on intelligence.  And so, what we did was to get a list of those persons on whom we have credible information that they are involved and only those persons are being targeted.  Those other persons who are out there and are doing their best to hold it down we continue to allow them to be on the streets and live their lives the way they currently are.  But they must be reminded that the area is also declared and so if, in the event they decide to do any nonsense then we will simply move at them with the SOE.  But so far we have a total of forty persons in detention.  There are still a few persons that we’re looking for and the officers remain actively on the streets across the country pursuing those individuals who are on the list.”