Howell Wants to Close Gap with Gangs

Howell Gillett

Since the beginning of the year, gang violence and gang-related murders are on the rise with the south side of the city particularly hit. 2017 ended with the second highest record number of murders and the start of 2018 is on the same trend. Gillett says that the fight against gangs and crime cannot be carried out in isolation; he wants to close the gap between the police and the community.

Sr. Supt. Howell Gillett, Newly Assigned Regional Commander, Eastern Division South

“I have a plan, especially with those young people who claim to be a part of gangs. It is proven over time that a hard fist hasn’t solved the problem so it tells you whoever made the decision for me to come saw it in the right way so I will lead in that area, but I will be soft with young people and those who want to change their lives, but I will be very tough on those who want to become and remain criminals. It shows that if not guns, then ammunition are very easy to get so we will have to go after the guns and the ammunition. But even before we do so, before we go and get the guns and ammunition from the hands of the young people, we have to attack the guns and ammunition in the hearts and minds of young people—the culture has to change; it is not revenge for every single thing that occurs. So that is something that we will be going and having frequent meetings in these areas.”

Duane Moody

“We’ve seen in the past where ACP Williams tackled it using interventions, mediation with gang members. The outgoing commander Mister Vidal, uses “a strong arm approach.” You now, we’ve seen in Belmopan, you’ve always worked along with the community. How do you plan to tackle gang violence, gang war in Belize City?”

Sr. Supt. Howell Gillett

“Well I don’t know the full details as yet. As I said earlier, I will listen to my officers, I will listen to the public, but I don’t believe for any minute that we can arrest our problems away. So it has to be something else to help us and I believe it is the close police/community relationship. I believe the gap between the police and the community is very wide and we need to bring that back.”