UNIBAM Director Meets with Commissioner of Police

Caleb Orozco

On Sunday, June thirtieth, the final day of Pride Month, police officer Ralph Gillett was put in a chokehold while being a victim of homophobic insults. Gillett was arrested after being involved in a scandalous brawl with a couple of women inside a water taxi in Caye Caulker. The fight was over seating space. The videos of the incident caused uproar at the level of homophobia that exists against the police officer. Caleb Orozco, Executive Director for United Belize Advocacy Movement, an organization which primarily champions the rights of gays, vehemently condemned the actions of police officers against PC Gillett. Following the incident, Orozco met with Commissioner of Police Chester Williams. Orozco says that progress was made in addressing “fundamental gaps” within the department.

Caleb Orozco, Executive Director, UNIBAM

“We had a fundamental disagreement over the facts of what transpired but we did agree that there is no video that established what triggered the conflict. What is clear for that particular case is that my organization has taken the responsible to evaluate whether the parties aggrieved has a claim and we are working on establishing not only that claim but a strategy for addressing the fundamental gaps that were indentified within the context of the Belize Police Department. What is important in this conversation is that is offers the Commissioner of Police some very good lessons and in regards to those lessons he was opened to take recommendation. We will be following up shortly in supporting his two initiatives that we agreed to.”