Neighbouring gov’t helping with murder investigation
And while the trans border war against drugs takes precedence, Perdomo says our neighbours to our north and west have also been helpful in trying to solve murders of Belizeans that take place in their countries. Since the beginning of the year at least three Belizeans have been killed in neighbouring Melchor. While there have not been any arrests in the killings, Perdomo says the coordinated efforts have been good. News Five also asked Perdomo when the recommendation of the Crooks Report will begin to take meaningful shape in the Police Department. He speaks first of the cross-border coordination.
Carlos Perdomo, Minister of National Security
“We’re trying to find out who are the people’s friends; we’re trying to find out where they were over there, who they were connected with and so forth. So there’s a lot of work into the investigation. With the modern armaments we have to upgrade the legislation like with the example of the grenade, you know, we had to amend one of the laws recently, a few months ago to include that type of thing. So soon the Ministry will be getting a legal advisor to help us to restructure a lot of our laws and regulations as it pertains to criminal activity and police work. The investigatory capabilities of the Police Force, the Prosecution elements, trying to upgrade our abilities in the courts; improving the Police Training Academy, our recruiting and so forth and another would be trying to have more civilian oversight over the management and so of the Police.”
Marion Ali
“That would have to take more than just an investment of sorts. It would also have to mean a change of tradition.”
Carlos Perdomo
“Absolutely, it will take a change of tradition; it will take several years. It will take a lot of training but it is the first step so it’s better than just putting the report on a shelf. DNA will take a little while as budgeting is appropriated.”
Marion Ali
“But this should help us with our conviction rate at the courts right?
Carlos Perdomo
“Well, eventually. Once you have a very good forensic lab with all the proper equipment and all the proper personnel that are highly trained and once the laws can be adjusted to include acceptance of certain forensic evidence then eventually it will help. But it takes a few years to develop a really top-class forensic lab because it’s something very costly in equipment and also very costly in training.”
Minister Perdomo says the first comparative microscope worth quarter million dollars, will also soon arrive in the country. This should enhance the Police Department’s ability in ballistics testing capabilities.
