Chester Williams Responds to Criticism Following Customs Comment

Chester Williams

Commissioner of Police Chester Williams raised the ire of many in the Customs and Excise Department when he said last week that there was complicity among officers at the borders in facilitating the flow of contraband goods into the country.  ComPol Williams has always been candid when it comes to his knowledge of persons who are caught breaking the law and minces no words.  But did he go too far and did those comments land him in trouble with his colleagues?  He says he speaks with certainty on that matter.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“I do not think I got into any hot water.  Whenever I say something I know what I am speaking about and my report or my information was not targeted at any particular department.  I said that what I saw when I went to the border was indeed facilitation.  I never said customs was facilitating or immigration was facilitating or whatever.  I said what I saw.  So at the end of the day, as a department, not only police but customs, immigration and the other security forces, they have a responsibility and that responsibility is to the Belizean people to ensure that we do what we need to do to ensure that this virus does not continue to spread among us.  And so, I am not going to point any fingers.  I can tell you, we have police officers at the border and they too are guilty of facilitating, so that’s the truth.”