John Saldivar Makes Quiet Visit to South Side Checkpoints
Like American military officials in Iraq or Afghanistan, Minister of National Security John Saldivar, his C.E.O. and other top brass in the Police Department swooped down on the south side of Belize City on Thursday night. It was done mostly in secret and it was intended to get a first hand view of the current police operations and personally meet and greet the men and women doing the dirty work of patrolling the Old Capital. According to south side regional commander Senior Superintendent Howell Gillett, he found all in order and not a hair out of place.
Howell Gillett
Sr. Supt. Howell Gillett, Regional Commander, Eastern Division South
“It was a surprise visit first of all; he toured our operations room and he was briefed; he was along with the C.E.O. in the Ministry of National Security, Felix Enriquez. And the comments coming from the troops on the ground – being the police or the B.D.F. operating on the ground – he visited every single checkpoint on the South Side of Belize City, and that in itself sends a message that he is very intricate, he wants to be very close to the fight against crime. The comments that have been coming from the officers, if you’ve seen my social media page, the officers are so happy. They are saying that it hasn’t happened in a long while and they’re happy for it.”
Reporter
“It’s boosting them up to see that their Minister is coming out and [he] cares…”
Sr. Supt. Howell Gillett
“It boosts the morale of the officers, and it’s something that I would want to encourage the Minister to continue to do and the Ministry to continue to do to boost the morale of the officers.”
Aaron Humes
“And he didn’t catch anybody off-guard in terms of not paying attention and everything?”
Sr. Supt. Howell Gillett
“I believe that was his intent, to surprise the officers; but he wasn’t surprised because all the officers were alert, who were on duty at the time.”
The Minister was accompanied by Chief Executive Officer, Felix Enriquez; the Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie; Deputy Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams; and other senior officials of the Belize Police Department.
