There was a drug destruction today - but for the first time in the many, many years that we've been covering the news, the media was not invited to witness it. Now, the media plays a critical role for transparency and public accountability - but - perhaps indicative of a general shift in public policy towards sanitised press coverage - the press was not invited to witness or document.
The. Government press office was and all we got was a few minutes of video presumably taken in Belize City, and the promise that "The Police Department will follow up with further details."
Those details came a few minutes ago - and while we cannot vouch for their veracity - the police say that the destruction included 428 parcels cannabis, of which 410, were found property, whilst 18 parcels were from cases concluded. All to a total of 274.6 kilos or 605 pounds of weed.
There were also 15.6 grams of crack cocaine - which is about 7 ounces, and and 529.8 grams of cocaine, or just over a pound.
Police say the items were accumulated over one year in the Belize District jurisdiction.
