Region One Commander Says Keep Calm on Murder Spate
Over the past week, several people have been murdered. Now, it is nothing new for Belize City, really, but for many these killings are worrying because most of the victims in recent times have been productive citizens not typical of gang-related crimes. Today when the media caught up with Region One Commander Howell Gillett, we asked about the state of crime in the city, particularly on the Southside. Gillett said that he couldn’t comment on the cases – but he attempted to give an explanation. Here’s what he had to say:
Howell Gillett
Sr. Supt. Howell Gillett, Regional Commander, Region One, Eastern Division
“Whatever the case might be, we are investigating. We continue to investigate and we move head long into it. What I could tell you of recent, it shows that some of the crimes that occurring are not gang related so we don’t expect that retaliation as a result of some of the crimes that have occurred recently. But I don’t want to comment too much on it until the investigation is completed.”
Reporter
“Sir, not gang related, but elements from those gangs are perpetrating those crimes?”
Sr. Supt. Howell Gillett
“I wouldn’t want to comment because there are people specifically assigned by the Commissioner of Police to report on crime. For January to May, we recently studied the statistics and on Region One side of police eastern division saw a reduction in major crimes. It is unbelievable because we hear of crime all the time but it is because it is being – the media puts it – so if every day you hear of a crime then you believe that crime is way out of hand then indeed.”
Andrea Polanco
“Sir, we are reporting what’s happening?”
Sr. Supt. Howell Gillett
“Yes. Yes and I won’t argue because statistics don’t lie and it shows that major crimes in Region One are down between January first and May eighth of this year. So, it shows that some of the tools that are being employed are working and we will continue. We have to tweak it around and there are certain things that we can’t publicly say but we are doing a lot behind the scene to keep crime down.”
