Last week we told you about city Special Constable John Pollard. The Belize Chinese Association, a powerful lobby group, wrote a letter to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Home Affairs and the Mayor complaining that pollard was shaking down Chinese grocers.
A constable for the past 11 years, Pollard has been working on liquor law enforcement for the last three years and the association claims that he's been harassing and taking advantage of their countrymen. Today Pollard came to our studios to defend himself against those charges.
John Pollard,
"I personally have never ever asked any Chinese before for any money while operating. When I am operating and you commit an offense, my job is charge you and that is what I does. I charge personnel who do not comply along with the laws."
Jules Vasquez,
You're saying that you did not at any point, and you're saying that never in your career, as a special constable you have ever gone to a Chinese and say, 'life could be simpler, just hand over this and nothing will happen to you.' You are saying you have never done that; John Pollard has never done that?
John Pollard,
"I am saying Jules that I John Pollard has never, ever done that before, never. There's only three names Jules on this paper who have actually signed that I am shaking down Chinese when Jules you have over three hundred grocery stores here in Belize; over three hundred grocery stores. Jules I'd like the public to know that this instance with Li Bo Chen was from 2004, it is not anything previous and Bo Chen was charged criminally by WPC Lopez who took her to court for slamming the windows on her hands and running the vehicle over her feet."
Jules Vasquez,
Is it your opinion John that certain powerful well-connected people are trying to move you so that they can have their way, because if you are doing your job as honestly and diligently as you claim you are, then you are in the way of people doing business the way, perhaps, they would like do.
John Pollard,
"Jules like I said before I do my job to the best of my ability and yes I believe there is people behind this that want to see me move from within the streets doing liquor operations, maybe because of the viligence or vigilant way that I go around doing my liquor operation. So yes I believe there are powerful people from within these organizations who want to see me removed from the streets."
Jules Vasquez,
It is often widely said that you are a PUP and you are a hardcore PUP in a UDP city council and perhaps your time has passed, in terms of your useful life in the city council has run its span, some people are saying that. You think that simultaneous occurrence of these two times, the election of a UDP city council and the circulation of this letter, by well connected and influential people, may be the death knell of your career as a special constable?
John Pollard,
"Jules I have been listening sometimes to Wave Radio in the morning and yes they have been bashing and people have been calling in and saying that I am Dickie's boy, and yes it's a UDP City Council and I should not be there but I do my job Jules without fear because there is nothing out there for me to fear. I do my job without fear and I do it honestly. If the UDP City Council that is in decided, 'hey John Pollard your time is up,' then that is beyond my control."
Pollard remains on active duty but councilor in charge of the city's constabulary, Mark King has told him, the complaint is being investigated.
