Jul 15, 2021
Chester Williams
Also under investigation are several persons whose names have shown up in an audit report of the COVID-19 Unemployment Relief Program under the Barrow Administration. According to information reaching News Five, the public purse was allegedly fleeced and several persons who were not eligible for relief funds received monies from the program. ComPol Chester Williams says that the National Crimes Investigation Branch is looking into this report.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“I received a copy of that report about two to three weeks ago by the Auditor General. We sat and had a very lengthy discussion over it and that matter has been assigned to C.I.B. to investigate as well. I think I saw three prominent names in that report where persons connected to those persons were getting relief funds that they were not entitled to. And so the matter is, like I said, with the police now and we are doing our investigation.”
Jul 15, 2021
Laddie Gillett
The news spread like wildfire today: a teenager vacationing with his family in the popular tourism destination of Placencia shot dead by police. Tonight that officer finds himself on the other side of the law as a criminal and an internal investigation begins into the incident. Today the police high command acted swiftly to detain the officer the officer in question as they await a directive from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. News Five’s Duane Moody has the first part of the story tonight.
Duane Moody
“Fourteen-year-old Laddie Gillett and his family were vacationing at the Chabil Mar Resort in Placencia. On Wednesday night, just before the ten o’clock curfew hour, as he and another minor were heading back home when they were pursued by police officers, one of whom fired the deadly shot that caught Gillett in the back.”
Jul 14, 2021
Ministry of Home Affairs Tours Caye Caulker & San Pedro
Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa and his C.E.O., Kevin Arthurs along with Commissioner of Police Chester Williams and other members of ministry are on a countrywide tour, meeting with officers attached to formations in various municipalities. On Tuesday, they were in Corozal and Orange Walk and today, they headed to the coastal communities of Caye Caulker and San Pedro. News Five’s Duane Moody caught up with the delegation and files this report.
Duane Moody, Reporting
The welfare of police officers has been the main topic of discussion as the Minister of Home Affairs makes the rounds on his country tour. Police barracks, health insurance and the overall morale of some two thousand two hundred police officers is at the heart of the visit.
Jul 7, 2021
Police Precinct Moves to King Street
The Belize Police Department has relocated its Precinct One Police Station to King Street in Belize City. According to the police officials, the newly renovated building has sufficient space and comes equipped with amenities to boost the morale of the cops who will work there. Today, the Belize Police Department held a ribbon cutting ceremony and News Five stopped in at the inauguration.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“The Precinct One area, I must say, is not one of but it is the most challenging area of policing in this country. And you all would know the reason why and you just step outside the gate and you look around you see a ghetto. And the area is heavily gang infested and we do have gangs who are at war with each other. So, Mr. Castillo will say to you that over the past few days there are a number of gun shots fired in the evenings and these are challenges the police officers have to deal wit
Jul 7, 2021
Chester Williams
The cost to take the COVID-19 test every two weeks will be free for cops as frontline workers. Here’s more from Commissioner Williams.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“We do have a number of persons who do not wish to take the vaccine and while we continue to encourage the officers to do so because we understand the importance of the vaccination. It is going to take some time for some people, longer than others and people I think just want to be comforted that the vaccine is okay and it is going to be safe to take it and once they have come to that self consciousness then they are going to take it. So, we just got to be patient and give them that opportunity to see if they are going to make up their minds and take the vaccine.”