225 New Recruits for Intake 95
A cohort of at least two hundred and twenty-five new police constables is expected to pass out of the Police Training Academy in June 2021, upon completion of a six month course. Their addition to the Belize Police Department is part of the People’s United Party’s mandate in which it is expected that an additional two thousand officers will join the department over the course of the next five years. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
As COVID-19 continues to frustrate the efforts of the Belize Police Department in fighting crime and violence, approval has been given at the Cabinet level for the recruitment of an additional two hundred and twenty-five new constables. As part of its written declaration of principles, policies and objectives, the People’s United Party pledged to strengthen the number of men and women in law enforcement. Of the two thousand extra boots on the ground promised in that manifesto over the course of the next five years, Intake 95 is a step towards realizing that goal.
Kareem Musa
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“There is a need for more police officers. We have had meetings with the ComPol and we have done our assessments. Especially now with COVID, I can tell you that we have currently one hundred and nine officers that are positive and one hundred and fifteen that are awaiting their test results and so we are understaffed, especially now in COVID. But even moving forward, it is not like COVID will be with us forever. Our financial state will not be in the mud forever. We will bounce back as a country. It will take some time but I foresee that whenever it is we do rebound and we do bounce back, that getting this pledge fulfilled is something that I am very serious about, increasing the ranks, and we mentioned it on the last occasion, of doing it incrementally.”
The need to grow the numbers of the department goes beyond the constraints of the pandemic. In fact, cumulative growth also ensures that the strategy is achieved in a practical and cost-efficient manner.
Kareem Musa
“In terms of the strategy moving forward, as you know, part of our manifesto plan, we are now the government for all, not just a political party. Part of our manifesto is to increase the rank of the police department. It might not be overnight, but certainly in the coming years, we want to take it to three thousand as an initial step and thereafter to four thousand.”
Intake 95 commences in January 2021. There is no certainty whether those recruits will be part of the reformed Police Training Academy under the tutelage of Dr. Priscilla Brown. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams, nonetheless, distinguishes the role of law enforcement officers.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“As police officers, we are a special breed of people. The work that we do, many would not want to do it for not even a minute. Despite the danger to ourselves and our families, we are out there on a daily basis doing our utmost best.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.
