Official Conflict Resolution Office Formed by Police

Robert Mariano

Conflict resolution is high on the police department’s agenda when dealing with rival gangs in Belize City.  For the most part, the crime and violence that continue to plague the Old Capital have been attributed to warring factions meting out street-style justice upon each other.  Since assuming the Eastern Division command a few weeks ago, Assistant Commissioner of Police Robert Mariano has been looking at ways to facilitate the peaceful and amicable resolution of many of the rivalries that exist in crime-ridden neighborhoods.  It has led to the establishment of a Conflict Resolution Office.

ACP Robert Mariano, Commander, Eastern Division

“Since I have taken over command of Eastern Police Division, I’ve noticed that there has been several tensions with the different groups here within Belize City and in order to diffuse the tension with the different rival groups.  And also, to work with the different organizations that have offered assistance to the Belize Police Department, we have since set up a new office at the Raccoon Street Police Station and this office is referred to as the Conflict Resolution Office.  This office will work to deal with intervention and mediation.  It will also work in conjunction with CYDP and they will be dealing specifically to coordinate all mediation and intervention directly from my office.  I believe that working with the different groups, or to mediate the different groups will help us to diffuse a lot of tensions and so that is one of the main issues I intend to work on in the next few weeks.”