Fifty New Surveillance Cameras for Belize City

On Thursday, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Economic Development held an inauguration ceremony for the installation surveillance cameras across the Old Capital.  The equipment was procured under the Belize Integral Security Program, a sixty million dollar project that is funded by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, CABEI.  News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

Fifty new pan-tilt-zoom, or PTZ, surveillance cameras have been installed in several areas of Belize City.  The procurement of this equipment will assist the Belize Police Department to effectively respond to incidences of crime.  Footage from these cameras will also provide evidence that can lead to successful prosecutions.

Kareem Musa

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs

“Since 2020, our surveillance system has captured an aggregate of nearly two hundred videos that have assisted in evidence gathering and thus prosecution of major crimes, ranging from robberies and aggravated assault to kidnapping and murder.  This activity is undoubtedly a marker of not only improved policing, but also improved access to justice for all.  This afternoon, to officially inaugurate this surveillance system which was made possible via the CABEI/Belize Integral Security Program, I cannot help but feel proud knowing that we are making another step in the right direction of improving citizen security and public safety.”

According to Commissioner of Police Chester Williams, the surveillance system will instrumental in enhancing overall public safety and security.

Chester Williams

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“We certainly do not have the amount of police to be able to control or contain the amount of people who may want to perpetrate criminal acts in our communities.  And so, when we do have systems that can enable the police to be able to police the community more vigorously, it helps us tremendously.  And what better way to do to it than to have the surveillance camera system that is very, very effective in making sure that we provide the level of security to our people.”

In 2023, the Government of Belize and Central TV and Internet Ltd. entered into an agreement for the acquisition of surveillance cameras and other related equipment.  It is the first of a package of surveillance and emergency systems that will form part of a citywide emergency response mechanism.

Osmond Martinez

Dr. Osmond Martinez, C.E.O., Ministry of Economic Development

“The system will also be connected into health systems, fire, if there is a fire, if there is any traffic accident.  So what we are trying to do is to have a multidimensional approach in how to enable a friendly environment, that it would be safe but also an environment that will help our Belizean people, our visitors to feel safe in all aspects.”

Isani Cayetano for News Five.