Belmopan business donates motorcycles
While some citizens were critical of the Police Department, other members of the force were being assisted in their efforts to contain crime. This afternoon I was on hand for a ceremony in Belmopan that looked like good fun.
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
It could be the Belizean version of “CHIPS”, but the emphasis is on “could”. They’re actually the latest addition to the Belize Police Department. The motorcycles are a gift from a Belmopan based company, Caribbean Investors Limited. According to the cops, the bikes will put a serious dent in crime.
A.S.P. Edward Broaster, Officer Commanding Belmopan
“Patrolling is a form of preventative method that is used to reduce crime and when we have officers on patrol the criminals think twice of committing crimes.”
“Being how they are quiet, they will be effectively used in patrolling the different areas that we are experiencing burglaries and so on. And I’m sure that it will enhance the reduction of burglaries in some of the areas that we have been plagued.”
Of this first shipment of five, the police will saddle up on four, while one will go to the Geology Department.
Evadne Wade, Director of Geology and Petroleum Department
“Geology is about field work, because it’s about identifying potential areas where minerals could be found and exploring for them. So we have to do a lot of field work. I would say over thirty percent of what we do involves field work, one type or the other. We do have two vehicles presently at the department, but there are lots of times when both vehicles are out in the field and in that capacity, the bikes that are donated by Caribbean Investors will be used for runs around Belmopan and anywhere on the highway.”
Brian Kim, Caribbean Investors Limited
“We live in Belize; I think I’m Belizean too. And so we thought we would help out the Belizean government, because it allows for communication and relationship.”
According to Caribbean Investors, the motorcycles cost two thousand U.S. dollars each. The other five bikes are expected to arrive in the country early next year.
