Crime Control Council to meet with Belizeans for Justice

michael young

The chairman of the Crime’s Control Council, Attorney Michael Young, spoke to the grieving mothers at the press conference and gave his assessment of the Commissioner of Police, Crispin Jefferies.  Some of the women claimed they had problems communicating with officers and the ComPol, who also sits on the board of the Crimes Control Council.

Michael Young, Chairman, Crimes Control Council

“What they are doing is to strike out against the pain that these mothers who have lost their children are suffering and of course, trying to help to change the crime situation in Belize. Efforts like this must be supported. What I take from this of course is I know the pain. Basically what they are saying is that Belizeans need to think that they have a system of justice and certainly this is a message that I will take back to the Crime Control Council.”

Jose Sanchez

“The group itself mentioned a lot of problems in dealing with the police and the police department; specifically, it seems that they were calling for the removal of the commissioner. Isn’t he also a part of the council?”

Michael Young

“Well he is a part of the council certainly and in fact I would welcome the commissioner to be there—hearing what they have to say and then giving his response because there are always two sides. As I mentioned, the matter of who is the commissioner of police is a matter for the government. It is for the Government to determine who is appointed, who is removed, who stays, and certainly that is the position that I need to respect. But it is perfectly legitimate for the people if they find they are not satisfied with the commissioner of police, it is right for them to say they are not satisfied. And in their view, they feel that he should be removed. It doesn’t mean that the government must go and remove the commissioner because it is a very difficult situation. Crime is the number one problem in Belize; the commissioner has to be on fire. Government needs to make its intelligent assessment of what is needed in this situation. It can’t just bend to even the media calling for someone’s head. It has to be a sober decision on their part. And I can say from my part that I have observed Crispin Jefferies and he is intelligent, he is a career police officer and he is determined in the fight against crime.”

Young says he has invited Belizeans for Justice to a meeting with the Crime Control Council. He also says he is in solidarity with the group.