Espat talks to media about police information
Although this afternoon’s press conference was mainly to highlight the equipment donation, the media took the opportunity to ask Minister Espat about his recent directive to the police that press releases on criminal activity only be issued on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Jorge Espat, Minister of National Security
“I believe we have the most open Ministry of National Security and Immigration at any time in this nation’s history.”
In responding to a concern raised by journalists that some police officers were not cooperating with the media when called to inquire about specific crimes, or even to ask for general information, Espat said this was the first time that he had heard of the problem. He says there is no policy that states that a police officer or any member of the police department is forbidden to speak with the press, especially on days when no press release is issued.
Jorge Espat
“And that is going to stop if it is happening. That is not a policy of the Ministry of National Security and Immigration. Let us not confuse the open transparency, free access on a daily basis, weekly basis to the Belize Police Department and the bi-weekly releases that are issued. And let us not also misconstrue that the releases in any way are going to undermine the ability to report, because the quantum of information is now more accurate and complete than the practice in the past.”
In the past, Ornel Brooks, Commissioner of Police, says the media has not been comprehensive in their reports of crime.
Ornel Brooks, Commissioner of Police
“When the releases reach the media, the media presents it in such a manner that it does not give a true picture of the story and set of circumstances that were being given as such. And often when we, during the investigative process, arrest people, got hold of weapons, at times that was totally neglected by the media. There was hardly any follow up being presented with the same vigor, nature of priority as to when the actual incident itself in other words, there was imbalance here.”
Brooks says the new policy not only informs the press about a crime being committed but the arrest of the perpetrators as well.
Last night the Media Association met to discuss the issue and drafted a letter to the Minister which was presented this afternoon following the press conference by pro-tem president Angel Novelo. The Association is asking for a suspension of the new directive and invites Minister Espat to meet with the press to reach a compromise solution. Among other things, the letter points out that delaying the release of crime information violates the recently signed treaty of Chapultapec which guarantees the dissemination of information to the press in a timely manner, among other press freedoms.
In other police news, Minister Espat says there have been discussions over the past two months about changes in the police command structure. When asked specifically if these personnel changes included the post of Commissioner, Espat said it would be unfair at this time to make any announcements, but he said that before the end of the month all discussions on the matter would be concluded and that any changes would be made public at that time.
