Summary of Crooks assessment of police released…
Harold Crooks, a former superintendent of the Jamaica Constabulary force and former advisor to Jamaica’s Ministry of National Security was in Belize from June to November of 2008 to assess and make recommendations to improve the police department. It has been known from last year that the contents of the report was damning to the force and up to now had not seen the light of day. And today at a press conference at the Raccoon Street Police Station, Minister of National Security Carlos Perdomo pulled out the top brass. But the media was not furnished with the detailed copy of the document. Instead, copies of a summary of the report were circulated at the close of the presentation and it was at best sketchy. And when questioned about its brevity, Perdomo was not amused.
Carlos Perdomo, Minister of National Security
“We are trying not to be insulting; I think we are here to share with you. The executive summary, I think, is one of the best ways because even members of Cabinet, that’s where we start with executive summaries. I don’t have a problem giving you the whole report but to suggest that we are bamboozling you is ridiculous also. I’d also like to say that when you’re talking about looking at changes, both of these things; the review of the police is a very serious work in progress to restructure the police force.”
Lloyd Gillett, C.E.O., Ministry of National Security
“Chapter two, which was to review techniques and resources devoted to the investigation of crime and make recommendations, all recommendations were found acceptable to the working group. However, implementation will require working with other Government of Belize agencies such as the Attorney General’s Ministry, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the judiciary for action which is outside the remit of the Ministry of National Security. In some areas we have to coordinate with the office of the ombudsman. The proposals contain, in recommendation sixty-one, towards an anti-corruption policy will require a public service work program for implementation. Review of the policies regarding the use of force, observing human rights and custodial practices, which is sixty-six to seventy-one; recommendations under this heading are either ongoing or easily implementable.”
Carlos Perdomo
“One of the exciting projects that has been organized for this year is the CYDP Agricultural enterprise program which is designed to provide job skills development and job opportunities. The government has contributed two hundred and fifty thousand in that program. On January fifth, just a few weeks ago, we also started a training program for eighty youths at the Center for Employment Training. This will provide marketable skills to youths so that they can enter the work force or perhaps start their own mini businesses. Also, the prime minister announced new initiative for an urban rejuvenation, which will employ sixty youths in Belize City in coordination with the Ministry of Works. This is a five million dollar program which should last us for six to seven months. In addition to that, two hundred and fifty thousand dollars out of that five million will be set aside to provide behavioral modification counseling and life skills through the training that we will be providing through this work program.”
