Belize Police Department Activates COVID-19 Task Force!
Chester Williams
And so, with all those violations – that brings us to the Belize Police Department’s response moving forward. Today, Commissioner Chester Williams told the press that they are taking sort of a different direction – that is, they are employing new strategies to deal with law breakers in an effort to stem the rising cases of COVID-19. So, to start off, they have activated a task force for each of the different policing regions. The task force will be responsible for solely policing the quarantine regulations. In an interview with the media today, Williams shared how the task force will operate.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“Today I have tasked each of the formation commanders to put together a COVID task force. The COVID task force is going to be a team of police officers who are going to focus within each of the different formations on the enforcement of the quarantine regulations. So, they are going to be moving around including the villages looking for violations with a view to see how we can deal with those persons who continue to defy and put us all risk.”
Reporter
“Who makes up the task force – and for some clarity their responsibility is just receiving these calls and going out to investigate?”
Chester Williams
“The task force will be made of police officers from different units and I will ensure that we have GSU among the task force to ensure that we have strict compliance. People have the tendency of doing illegal things and then when police come to deal with the situation, they act a way and start to video and get the public on their side against the police. We are not going to take heed to that. The task force will be specifically used to address COVID-19 regulation that will be the only task, nothing else.”
Reporter
“Does this take away from the number of officers who have to do the day-to-day policing on the ground?”
Chester Williams
“Yes it will take away from the number of officers that have to do with day-to-day policing but our greatest threat right now is COVID-19. COVID-19 is a threat to our national security. It is a threat to economy. It is a threat to every aspect of our lives and so we have to make it a priority so even though it is going to take away from our core policing function, it is going to help us significantly to address this plaguing issue of the COVID-19 virus.”
Andrea Polanco
“ComPol, what are you guys doing at the bus terminals? We still see significant gatherings and no regard for social distancing?”
Chester Williams
“That is one thing the task force is going to be dealing with as well. I have tasked the commanders that we must look at the bus terminals, the stores because we are getting complaints that stores are packed to capacity. We have to look at in Belize City the sea wall and in other municipalities the parks where people continue to gather and socialize in the evening time. And as well as looking at those persons who are hosting these birthday parties and baby showers and weddings.”
Andre Polanco
“Sir, when will the taskforce be activated?”
Chester Williams
“That will be today – I have given instructions to put that in place today.”
