No Special Treatment for Children of Ministers

But how does ComPol Williams ensure that investigations centred on the children of politically appointed persons are not tainted? It is often speculated that those highly connected to government ministers are immune to criminal liability. In the most recent assault case involving Kenzle Hulse, the son of Minister Godwin Hulse, many questioned why firearm charges were not levied against the younger Hulse. Here’s what the commissioner had to say.

Chester Williams

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“As much as the public may not want to believe, in the execution of my duties as commissioner, I do not get calls from ministers or if they do call, I explain to them what the situation is and they understand and they move on. I have not been told by anybody not to charge this one or not to charge that one. At the end of the day, the law governs all of us, regardless of who we are. And so I don’t want anyone to think that because they are the son of a minister that they are immune from criminal liability because that is not the case. Once the evidence is there, then we will ensure that we proceed in accordance with the law.”

Reporter

“Sir as it pertains to Mister Hulse, some are of the view that he got off with a simple slap on the risk amidst allegations that he used a firearm in this alleged offense. Were those allegations or reports brought to you by the victim and can you explain why firearm charges were not levied against him?”

Chester Williams

“Let me first and foremost say that the police do not work on public outcry. And we work based on evidence. I have looked at the report itself and let me say that in the first instance, it was Mister Hulse who went to the police station first to lodge his complaint that the young girl had assaulted him. And while he as in the process of making his complaint, she came in and made her complaint as well that he assaulted her so we have what is referred to as a cross complaint. I spoke to the investigators and we looked at several factors and based on the investigation there is not evidence to support the charge of aggravated assault with a firearm. Similarly, in relation to Mister Hulse’s complaint that the young lady had assaulted him, there is no evidence to support that she assaulted him, hence she was not charged as well. So we as the police must be fair in conducting investigation.”