Kareem Musa: Deputy Commissioner Bart Jones Has All Rights to Seek Court Action

The case of Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bart Jones against the Security Services Commission was not heard today as initially announced, except for case management. The matter will be heard virtually on another day to be assigned by the court. Jones is asking for leave from the High Court for permission to apply for judicial review for an order to quash a specific portion of a decision taken by the Security Services Commission. That decision was to promote Doctor Anthony Rosado to the post of Deputy Commissioner of Police, effective July first, 2021. Jones lays out that there was no vacant post of Deputy Commissioner of Police prior to the date of Rosado’s appointment. He will also try to make the case that Rosado did not qualify for promotion at the time. Thirdly, Jones claims that the Rosado’s promotion was made six months ahead of his own promotion date, with no indication given to him of the reason for Rosado’s promotion and an opportunity for him to make representations. This, he claims, was a breach of natural justice and his constitutional right to due process and equal protection under the law. It’s the first case to be taken up by two senior members of the Belize Police Department in the High Court in recent memory and one that is expected to draw keen interest. Today, the Minister responsible for the police, Kareem Musa weighed in on the matter.

Kareem Musa

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs

“Every private citizen has a right to take a matter to court and to challenge particular decisions. I don’t see it as unfortunate. I think that, uh, both gentlemen along with the commissioner of police enjoy a very professional relationship, and so I don’t see any sort of erosion of that relationship. Um, and so Mr. Jones has, all right, if he feels aggrieved in any way to take a matter to court, uh, in terms of the substance of that particular case, I do not want to comment on that. Um, as that is still before the courts, and if I’m not mistaken, uh, the courts has have set, um, a timeline in terms of the submissions for that particular case, and I think it goes into August. But would you know if there was a promotion in 2021 at the time when D C P Rashada was promoted? Uh, if I recall correctly, that was when he was appointed the post. Yes. He was appointed to the post, uh, prior to, uh, Mr. Jones being appointed Deputy Commissioner, what was your vacancy? I do believe so, yes.”