Winston Smiling is a well-known businessman and a political legend. He is the grand-nephew of George Price, a justice of the peace and a Commissioner of the Supreme Court.
But all that didn't matter yesterday evening at 3:45 when the GSU descended on his property on New Road.
It is the businessplace for Smiling Meats and his son's residence. The GSU searched it for four hours and left at 7:45 without finding anything.
7news was there last night when they left and Smiling told us that he felt vindicated, not humiliated:
Winston Smiling - Owner, Smiling Meats
"3 GSU officers came into the shop asking for me. I came out. They said that they had reliable information that we are doing drugs in this meat shop, and as a result, they would like to search. So I told them that I didn't have a problem, and that they should feel free, and to tell me where they were they wanted to start. On second thought, I saw that there were only 3 officers, so I asked them to bring some more to strengthen the search and do it properly. Shortly after, a jeep-full of officers came. I left them; they searched everything. They came up with nothing. They tore open my hand seasoning and everything else. At the end, the officer - the one that originally started - thanked me for my cooperation, and they left. They came into the shop and told my employees that they couldn't speak or answer the phone. They told them to take off the phone. They stopped my business because I get phone call after phone call, and I couldn't answer. We had things to deliver, and we couldn't deliver. What I don't like, Jules, is the fact that I am in the meat business for over 60 years, and I've never experienced anything like this yet, never, ever. Whoever sent them, I hope that they got satisfaction, but I would like to know who, and I believe that eventually, I will know who it was. My father used to say, 'Son, Belize is so small, when it rains, everybody gets wet.' I will find the individual."
Jules Vasquez
"So, you don't think that they were indeed acting on intelligence; you believe that it was intended to harass you."
Winston Smiling
"No, No, I do believe that somebody called wanting to belittle me. I probably stepped on somebody's toe, or curse one of them - because you know me, I don't hold back any punches."
Jules Vasquez "So, You don't think it's political?"
Winston Smiling
"No, not at all, I would never go that way."
Jules Vasquez
"Do you fear that they may search you again?"
Winston Smiling
"Well, we're living in some times of trial; it's possible that they might come back. Maybe, they get a next tip and say, 'You know what, you never searched in front of the door.' But, let them come; I am cleaner than any one of them."
