Chinese community assists police
Police received some help for their crime fighting efforts from the Chinese community today. The gifts came in the form of both funds and equipment. News Five was at the Raccoon Street Police station this afternoon.
The ten bicycles, a gift from Edward Quan, the proprietor of Quan’s
Trading Centre will be used by Zone Beat Liaison Officers to help them effectively do their job and strengthen the relationship between the police and the community.
Ornel Brooks, Commissioner of Police
“They will be used primarily by our Liaison Zone Beat Officers who visit the schools, high schools and make calls to shut-ins and businesses, establishments or also other private citizens.”
Q: “What was happening before that will make this donation very valuable to the program?”
Ornel Brooks
“In the main, our Zone Beat Liaison Officers were footing it and that was a very, very difficult task, so the bicycles will help them to get around their zones much more quicker and effectively.”
Over the past three years Chinese establishments have become the targets for holdups and robberies in Belize City. These crimes have prompted the Chinese community to assist the Police Department in tackling the problem. Jorge Espat, Minister of National Security says he believes that as the Police Department is upgraded in personnel, equipment and vehicles, there will be a continued decline in crimes across the board.
Jorge Espat, Minister of National Security
“I think there are several problems: one, the size of the Belize Police Department. I think the numbers indicate that there are too few police officers. Another problem is the lack of mobility. Often times they don’t have the equipment, the vehicles.”
To share their appreciation for the work the Police Department has done under difficult circumstance, the Chinese community donated a check of thirty seven thousand, nine hundred and thirty dollars to the Police Trust Fund. The check, which was handed over by the community’s president and well known businessman, Simon Quan will go towards the welfare of police officers and their families.
William Quinto, Belize Ambassador to Taiwan
“Our policemen leave their family, patrol on the streets, deal with these criminals; they deserve something so we come up with this idea and we talk to some of our members — so far we have over one hundred establishments — to support the idea.”
Jorge Espat
“We are glad today to receive your handsome contribution which we will deposit to the Police Trust Fund. I will not disclose how much the trust fund is at this time but I want to say that we have been receiving a tremendous amount of contributions from across the country. It is our goal that we’re going to hand over at an appropriate time, a check to the board of directors that will manage the Police Trust Fund. And the Police Trust Fund is for the welfare of the police officers as well as for the Belize Police Department. It is our hope that we’re shortly going to appoint a board of directors with representatives of the Belize Police Department as well as private sectors who will manage this trust fund.”
Espat says the government of Belize is committed to active policing and building an effective working relationship with the community. Jacqueline Woods for News Five.
During the handing over ceremony, Minister Espat also mentioned that the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce will be donating fifty motorcycles to the Police Department. And two months ago the G.O.B. signed an agreement with the U.S. Exzim Bank for one point six million dollars worth of police vehicles that are expected to arrive in Belize shortly.
