And there was a storm of community unrest in remote San Vicente Toledo yesterday.
San Vicente sits at the extreme southwestern edge of Belize- and there is a constant BDF presence because it is a frontier area prone to incursions.
But, yesterday the villagers - alcalde included said they wanted the BDF out. Police had to be called in to keep the peace. The Commissioner told us more:
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"There was some issue in the village between elements of the B.D.F. and some villagers which resulted in the villagers saying that they wanted the B.D.F. out of the village. Based on that the police were deployed to avoid any standoff between the villagers and members of the B.D.F. whom I must say did not leave. And under no circumstances should the B.D.F. have left, that would have shown a sign of weakness. And so we sent police officers into the area and based on that a number of persons were spoken to, some were detained and we expect that charges will be filed against some of them today."
Reporter
"Sir, why did they want the B.D.F. out of the village?"
Chester Williams
"Well you know, some people just want to have their way and when the B.D.F. intervened, they got uptight and said they wanted the B.D.F. out."
Reporter
"Is there any meeting happening today? I understand the alcalde is involved?"
Chester Williams
"Well the alcalde himself will be brought in today by the police. He has some questions to answer because he was part of what took place."
