New Compol will take over in April

The rumours have been flying for several weeks and today it’s official: the next commissioner for police will be Gerald Westby. According to a press release from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Westby will take over on April twenty-fifth, 2005 following a three month transition period supervised by outgoing commissioner Carmen Zetina. Along with the promotion of Westby, who most recently headed the National Crimes Investigation Branch, there were a number of new appointments in the police high command.

Assistant Commissioner Maureen Leslie will take on the long dormant rank of Deputy Commissioner and take over as Commander of Management and Services. Assuming command at Eastern Division is Senior Superintendent Crispin Jefferies while Assistant Commissioner Bernard Lino will be responsible of liaison with regional law enforcement efforts. Senior Superintendent Eduardo Wade will become Commander for Operations, Superintendent Mario Vernon will take over at National C.I.B., while Superintendent Noel Leal assumes the post of Director of Training.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Zetina, instead of retiring to the farm, will trade his baton for an equally powerful pen as head of the Immigration and Nationality Service. At the same time Commandant of the Belize Defence Force, Brigadier General Cedric Borland will relinquish command of the BDF to manage the operations of the newly mandated Coast Guard Service.