The Accountability of the Belize Police Association

As it relates to the accountability of the Belize Police Association, we’ve reported that the top brass of the department has intervened and made requests to the association for an audit of the collections received from its membership. Despite several requests made by former ComPol Whylie, the financials have not been forthcoming. But as News Five was able to find out, the association is not refusing to comply, but simply cannot.  A leaked letter to the media shows that the association responded to Whylie’s request. Signed by President Arzu and its seven board members, the letter explains that in order to provide a “full account of the funds of the Association,” a complete report of the Police Trust Fund and the Police Reward Fund accounts must be provided, which the association does not control. The Association, we are told, began collecting voluntary contributions from its two thousand plus members, but the money collected was being deposited into the Police Trust Fund instead of the association’s account. Until the Police Trust Fund’s account was reconciled, they would not get a penny. Earlier today, we asked Williams about where’s the dialogue on this issue and this is what he said.

Chester Williams

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“I am not going to have any dialogue with anybody because at the end of the day, whatever instructions have been given to Mister Arzu are well in line with the police act, well in line with the association rules and so I stand behind the decision that the previous commissioner has made as it relates to the accounts of the police association. Officers are inquiring what is becoming of their money that they are paying and they have a right to know. Mister Arzu who was the chairman then is responsible for it and he must account for the monies of these officers that they have paid to the association.”