Hotlines activated to report border jumpers and contrabandists
The Police Department is counting on the public to prevent border jumpers and contrabandistas from entering the country. Five phone lines and an online social media messenger programme were activated today as law enforcement try to get a handle on these illegal activities that can further expose the country to COVID-19. News Five was at today’s launch. Here’s the story:
Andrea Polanco, Reporting
The Belize Police Department launched five hotlines, as well as an online reporting account accessible on Facebook, where you can report illegal entry and contraband activity.In addition, two vehicles were added to the Department’s fleet, these are specifically to enhance patrols along the border. These are expected to boost thepolice’s measures to curb these illicit acts so as to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19:
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
Chester Williams
“All of these are very essential in order for us to achieve our objectives in terms of reducing the occurrences of border jumping and contraband across our borders. I want the public to understand that from a law enforcement stand-point, we’re going to do our utmost best to prevent these occurrences. We also have two vehicles that will be deployed to the border areas with police and military personnel patrolling those blind spots with a view to make sure we plug those blind spots as much as we can. We know that we will not be able to plug all of them and that is why the hotlines and social media platform are going to be essential because it now gives the public an opportunity a vehicle to be able to report to the police whenever they see or suspect any of those persons involved in any of these two activities.”
The Minister of National Security Michael Peyrefitte was at today’s handing over ceremony. He appeals to the public to make use of these new tools to help secure our border:
Michael Peyrefitte, Minister of National Security
“While these hotlines are for border jumpers – it is important for me to mention that it is not to promote border jumping but to try and prevent border jumping. Because we want all participants in these communities to help us; all the JPs in the northern districts and along the northern border as well, please your assistance will be greatly appreciated at this time. All the community leaders in these border towns, your assistance are greatly needed at this time.”
To make a report using the DIGI lines, you can call 0-800-SAVEBZE; while the SMART numbers are 0-800-BORDERS and 0-800-JUMPERS. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams says that these hotlines will be manned around the clock where you can call in your reports anonymously:
Chester Williams
“Yes, they are going to be manned on a twenty-four basis. Whenever information is received from any caller, the teams that are out in the area patrolling are going to respond with a view to ensure that the information provided is acted upon.”
Andrea Polanco
“So, the public can make reports anonymously?”
Chester Williams
“Yes, the can. Either by phone or by way of messenger.”
The Minister and Commissioner warned that the public must use the phone lines strictly for illegal entry and contraband reports; not for malicious purposes.
Michael Peyrefitte
“I just want to send a warning to the public – do not use these hotlines as way to try and create mischief. These are serious hotlines for serious purposes. And we want to make sure that police’s efforts or the entire national security apparatus’s efforts are not used for the waste of time. So, please help us with only serious situations so that we can make sure that our borders remain free and clear, only allowing for legal exit and entry into Belize.”
Chester Williams
“Not because someone calls and say there is a border jumper means that the police will go and pick you up and take you to a quarantine center. There is certain due diligence that must be done in order for that to occur and that is going to be followed.”
BTL provided three phone lines; while SMART gave two; and GS Com provided the computer for the online reporting component:
Adelaide Sabido, PR & Branding Officer, Smart Belize
Adelaide Sabido
“As citizens of this country, we have a responsibility to the well-being of ourselves and also the well-being of those in our community. I urge and appeal to the public to use the numbers as necessary.”
George Sosa
George Sosa, Owner, GS COM
“They needed a computer device to assist in the social media and efforts to reduce border jumping. So, I told that we need to reduce that for the safety of all Belizeans and so being a technology company, we said we will definitely donate that device. So, I am here and glad to be of service to the country and the police and to everyone here in Belize.”
And with this support from the business community, Commissioner of Police Chester now hopes for an even biggerdonation; this time for drone equipment – to provide an extra pair of eyes in the sky along the border hot spots:
Chester Williams
“I can tell you that we are trying our utmost best to get two drones. But you would know the financial constraints that the government is in. So, they have not been able to procure those drones for us. But if there is anybody out there, any company who believe they would like to be generous to the police department we are willing to accept donation of two drones. Again, we don’t want the home use, we want the industrial type. Those that we are trying to procure runs like forty-five thousand for one.”
Andrea Polanco reporting for News Five.
To access the online reporting method, you can go on Facebook and look up the page “Belize Police Department Reporting Border Jumpers and Contraband” – there you can communicate directly with officers to send reports or provide photographic evidence.
