The Illicit Acquisition of Gun Licenses in Belize

Chester Williams

We also asked ComPol Williams if he believes there is a black market for gun license operating in Belize and if he thinks high ranking police officer are involved. Here is how that conversation went.

Paul Lopez

“Are you aware then that there is a gun license black market operations here in Belize and that some of your senior officers are a part of that chain?”

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“I don’t know, I don’t know if that is the case. Maybe there may be instances where persons might apply on behalf of other persons and they may be giving them something under the table, but like I said if you a person are friends and that person applies on your behalf and you give that persons something for helping you, that has nothing to do with me. Now, if they were to say I give the commissioner something and I can say to you definitely nobody out there cannot tell you they pay the commissioner for any gun license because I do not indulge in that stupidity.”

Paul Lopez

“Sir, but this makes your job rather difficult because how you know, based on what comes before you what is fraud and what is not?”

Chester Williams

“There is nothing in life that is full proof, even the U.S. Embassy visas that they go through so many things to issue. Even those people fabricate. Everything you do there is always a risk that something will go wrong or someone is going to find a way to circumvent the process and you have to expect that. Even if the gun license was to go to a board now, you feel like it would make a difference? Jamaica went to a board and even in Jamaica gun license are being issued to persons that are not suppose to get gun license and the police are having issues with that. So, don’t matter what we do that is going to be a perennial problem that we have to deal with as a society.”