He's made his name and his fame as Belize's most accessible and media friendly Commissioner of Police in history, but tonight, Chester Williams says Channel 7 is under investigation and could face charges for an inaccurate report.
The report was posted on our facebook page over the weekend - when we received reports from police sources that a narco plane had landed in the north and the cops were responding in a hurry. That was factual - the police were responding to their own credible reports; but police found no plane, despite intensive searches of the area all the way into Sunday night.
When they found nothing, the Commissioner pounced on our post, saying, quote, "The post went on to say that a Columbian was detained on the landing site. The entire content of this post by channel 7 is false, misleading, irresponsible and a violation of our laws."
Well, first of all, today he admitted that three persons including a Colombian were detained - but then - in a bizarre reversal - he tried to blame it on 7News. Here's the exchange with the COMPOL this morning at the Police Training Academy:
Jules Vasquez
"This sinister and outrageous attempt to intimidate, threaten and muzzle the media."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"First and foremost let me say thanks for surrendering yourself to the police this morning and I do not understand where the thought of trying to intimidate the media came from. Being the media and particularly one like you where everybody watch you, very influential fellow, right. You know that when you say something people believe. It creates some degree of panic and unsafety to persons, particularly those residing in the north. I can tell you I get a number of text from people who were complaining bitterly about these plane landings because people are fed up of it including us and so when the media house published information that is totally not true and there is some investigation to get to the bottom of it, it should not be seen as censoring the media as some may want to put it."
"Again, we maintain the fact that whatever you report needs to be accurate. There is no attempt to sensor the media. There is a right to freedom of expression, freedom of press and that right is not going to be fettered by us. But at the same time the media cannot be seen to have that unfettered right to report what they want, even if it is not true. It cannot be."
Jules Vasquez
"Will talk in general about the ethics of what you have done in trying to threaten and intimidate repeatedly, but let's deal with the facts first: is it not factual that police responded to a credible report of a plane landing im that area? Is it not factual that 11 that night 3 persons were detained; one of them Colombian, 2 from Tower Hill Village? Police responded to a credible report."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Let me say again to you Mr. Vasquez. You're not going to get away with this by trying to put words in my mouth: The police is not trying to intimidate the media. As a matter of fact I don't see anybody in this country who is more intimidating that you are, so don't try to bring that play the victim game here. It is not going to work today."
Jules Vasquez
"Sir, you still haven't answered my question: persons were detained, police responded, there was actually a flyover I'm told to search for this plane which was never found. Accepted."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Well maybe I should allow Channel 7 to pay for the fuel for the flyover, because it was based on your information we did the flew-over. SO you cost the government to expend resources that we should not have expended."
Jules Vasquez
"You all had credible reports from credible people on the ground."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Had reports, but not credible. There were several variables that are normally associated with a plane landing. That were not present."
Jules Vasquez
"Like the tracks."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Right, without going into specifics. There is a law that has to do with spreading false rumors. Now there may be some degree of what you are referred to as a logical fallacy in your reporting, but the facts remains that you reported nonsense."
Jules Vasquez
"I knew you had multiple teams out there looking for the same plane. We were all deceived by the initial reports. It's just that my intelligence is too good."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Too good? No man." (smiling)
Reporter
"Can you speak to the facts of the purported plan landing? Was anyone detained as was ask earlier?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"We had 3 persons who were detained and those persons were a tour guide and a Colombian consultant."
Reporter
"You've made certain threats or certain comments..."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Do not allow Mr. Vasquez to thwart your mind."
Reporter
"Sir, you alluded to certain actions that police would take. Can you speak to what's the next step for police in this matter?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"The matter has been handed over to investigators to investigate and when that investigation is done we are going to see where we go from there."
