Arthur Saldivar Charged with ‘Being in Possession of an Unregistered Bulletproof Vest’

Among the items found at Arthur Saldivar’s family residence in Camalote Village was a bulletproof vest.  For this, he was charged with being in possession of an unregistered bulletproof vest.  But according to Saldivar’s attorney, Richard “Dickie” Bradley, the prosecution attempted to convince the magistrate to remand Saldivar.  Bradley says that having a bulletproof vest without the permission of the Commissioner of Police has a penalty of five hundred dollars.

Richard “Dickie” Bradley

Richard “Dickie” Bradley, Attorney

“They say they found one or two bullet proof vests and I will tell you this and you can look back on the record, some poor misguided minister who doesn’t know anything once upon a time signed a statutory instrument which is not a law that goes to the National Assembly, making a bulletproof best a prohibited item for which a person automatically is denied bail and if found guilty goes to jail for a minimum of five years. There have been unfortunate citizens including a lecturer of our university who has felt the brunt of that law. A stupid law because a bulletproof vest is manufactured to save lives. In a violent society we should all have a bulletproof vest when we go to funeral in Belize City. Bullets are always flying there. That law has been put aside a long time ago. You just apply to the Commissioner of Police if you want a bullet proof vest. If doesn’t grant it to you no problem. If you still have it the most you pay is five hundred dollars for having a bulletproof vest.”