Since its launch last year the Cash for Information program through the 922 hotline has gotten thousands of tips, spent $45,000, and claims it has gotten 250 guns off the street. And though the program no longer uses the 922 hotline, there is still cash if you have the information. And to ensure that there is cash in the revolving fund, this afternoon the Chamber of Commerce which manages the program jointly with the Police Department got a check for $6,000 from the Mayor's association. The check was handed over to Chamber President Mark Lizarraga by Belize City Mayor David Fonseca.
David Fonseca, Mayor of Belize City
“Each municipality is affected by the criminal elements and we are seeing it in a small way for us to contribute as an authority in our own municipalities towards the cause of cutting back on the criminal elements particularly crimes that are conducted with weapons. So this is a small way of us saying we are assisting in getting the guns off the street.”
Mark Lizarraga, President Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry
“As the mayor said this fulfills a part of a commitment made by the Mayor’s Association in support of this program. As we mentioned earlier the program has been very successful to date. We have successfully removed over 250 guns off the street leading to a 180 arrests in a little less than a year and I certainly think we are beginning to see the impact from the success of this program. I think criminal activity with weapons, as you know more than anyone else, has significantly decreased recently and we hope that this continues and contributions such as this is what keeps this program alive.”
Errol Gentle, Cash for Information Coordinator
“The 922 hotline is being utilized by Crime Stoppers international but the Cash for Information program is still going on and anybody with information concerning illegal weapons can call the 911 hotline. This hotline is manned civilians not the police, even the 227-2222 is being manned by civilian personnel, so people can call in and they don’t need to give their names. They just need to give the information and we will take it and process it and pass it through to the police. And once the information proves fruitful, then they will be receiving an award (cash).”
The 911 cash for information hotline is also a toll-free call.