And one man who probably didn't get caught up in those fuel lines is Minister Michel Chebat's former driver, Hamid Awe Sr. That's because he's parked at home after the Minister had to let him go when an outrageous video went viral.
It shows the Ministerial driver using the full sway of powers associated with this often overlooked post - where a driver is a kind of demigod - his informal powers somewhat less than a minister, but somewhere around what would be afforded to a junior minister.
And Hamid Awe brought all of it to bear on Thursday night in San Ignacio when he tried to get his adult son released by police after a mask violation.
Those are the words of a shirtless and mask-less Hamid Awe Sr as he berated and verbally abused police on Thursday night for daring to arrest his son. He tells them he is going for his gun:
"That man" is his boss, Health and Wellness Minister Michel Chebat.
And encouraged by his father's attitude, his son defiantly climbs on top of the police truck - while his ftaher threaten to fire police:
And to back it up - Awe makes clear his political untouchability:
It's the kind of political thuggery Belize has seen for decades of PUDP rule and today - more than four days later - his boss Minister Chebat said, in a statement, quote, "It was unpleasant, unnecessary and unfortunate,...I take this opportunity to express my regrets and apology to the BPD." end quote. But what his statement didn't say is what he told us this morning - that he would be firing Awe as his driver. He told us that Awe's actions, quote, "can't be tolerated...(and he) can't remain as my driver..." end quote.
His official statement says that Awe explained to Chebat that "he behaved the way he did because he felt that his son was brutalized and was being treated unfairly by the Police."
That son who jumped off the top of the police truck and tried to run off - is well known to police after he was charged with a serious offence as a minor in 2015.
