Cabinet approves improvements in police, other departments
The new Attorney General, Godfrey Smith was given the go-ahead at this week’s Cabinet meeting to begin a three-year plan of action to improve the justice system. The plan includes modernizing the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, attracting high caliber candidates for key positions in the judiciary, speeding up the delivery of criminal and civil justice and establishing a Legal Services Commission with representation from the Bar Association. The registry, magistracy and Family Courts will be improved; the types of cases where guilty pleas can be mailed in with fines will be increased and a citizens’ advice desk will be established in each district.
The judiciary will not be the only area to be upgraded. The Ministry of National Security will be putting more officers on the streets and beefing up other areas of their operations. The changes are among the recommendations in a Police Department review carried out by two consultants from the United Kingdom which was presented at Cabinet’s weekly meeting in Belmopan. To increase the number of crime intelligence, investigation and detection officers, fifty now vacant posts in the Belize Defense Force will be transferred to the Police and more civilian staff will be used to carry out administrative functions. The ranks of deputy commissioner, assistant inspector and corporal will also be abolished to streamline the command structure.
The National Fire Service, now under Minister Dickie Bradley is also going through some changes. As promised, the airport fire service is now headquartered in Belize City at night. The Cabinet made good on a manifesto promise to establish a National Lands Advisory Committee. It will be headed by James Hyde with fourteen members from the private sector, N.G.O.s and government and opposition representatives. Following an incident in Succotz Village in which a faulty butane gas tank leaked burning several people, the Ministry of National Security will introduce a bill in the House of Representatives to outlaw the house to house delivery of butane in tanker trucks. Although the restriction had been agreed to during a meeting with gas companies and fire officials last year, some butane companies continue to violate the ban because it is not legally binding.
The Minister of Labour Jose Coye has appointed a tribunal to arbitrate a dispute between B.E.L. and the Belize Energy Workers Union. Winston Carr, a former labor officer and Chief Elections Officer will head the tribunal which includes members Norman Moore and George Swift. B.E.L. is represented by Fernando Coye and the union by Eduardo Melendez.
Cabinet asked the Ministry of Human Development to research the increasing problem of vagrants on the streets of Belize City. The Ministry has been asked to attempt to return these people to their families or seek alternative housing for them.
In tourism news, the new joint Ministry of Tourism and Youth has appointed Valerie Woods, previously the Director of Tourism, as Acting Permanent Secretary. B.T.B.’s Deputy Director of Marketing and Public Relations Tracy Taegar takes over as Director of the Belize Tourism Board.
