Commissioner of Police Chester Williams has been bold in his declarations about the dangers to public health posed by contraband smuggling. Indeed, the laws during the state of emergency criminalised smuggling to a much greater degree, and the Commissioner's zeal to stop contraband was almost over the top - but, certainly, proportional to the risks posed.
And, events have proven just what those risks are - with COVID infections fanning across the Orange Walk district - where smuggling is the most widespread.
But, before the neighbouring community of Othon P. Blanco in Mexico was overrun with COVID cases, and before any national lockdown in Belize, the commissioner of Police didn't take such an unyielding hardline on contraband smuggling. A text message he sent into a law enforcement chat group in March shows him taking a much more blasé "live and let live" approach. We put that to him yesterday:
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Sunday March 22nd, Orange Walk police intercepted a vehicle with 8 sacks of Bola Roja flour and the driver was detained. You responded, "We need to ease off this for a while, OC, in a time where people are trying to stock up on their supply due to imminent coming of Covid-19. Our actions may be inconsiderate." So at this time you were saying..."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"When was that Jules?"
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"March 22nd, 2020."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"That was before the state of emergency any at all."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"I'm saying that you were at that point saying man left the people dem with their Bola Roja."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"But I don't understand Mr. Vasquez, how you have police blog information. That's a breach of national security."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"It's not a police blog. I'm saying, the point is the point. You said mek the thing slide."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"There was always a policy where if you catch people with personal items that they are going to use for their personal self, that you don't really bother them. As a matter of fact that was what led Customs to establish an informal base in Botes. When it comes to the commercial quantity, that's a different story. But you catch a man with a 10 pounds of flour, 2 pounds of beans - where they are trying to provide for his family, then that was not a big deal then, but with the advent of Covid, we have to go after everything."
