And one of the major things that the Commissioner of Police is doing is changing the Officer Commanding Eastern Division.
It's the hottest seat in the entire department - and Compol Williams is bringing back a familiar face, Assistant Commissioner, Howell Gillette. He had just taken over the Cayo formation - but now he's flipping assignments with the senior Superintendent Suzette Anderson - who's held the hottest for just over a month - but to no great success.
We asked him about the change:
Jules Vasquez
"Because of all this unrest in the city and this continued spate of violence from January, that you are planing to change the officer commanding Eastern Division and bring back Howell back to the city as the new OC."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"There have been some discussions in terms of changing the commander in Eastern Division. You have been around long enough to understand the dynamics of policing, especially in Eastern Division and there is no magic fix."
"The switch is being made between her and Howell Gillett, you know that Eastern Division is the largest region in the country. Mr. Gillett is an ACP and Ms. Anderson is a Senior Superintendent and the post for Eastern Division is that of an ACP. So Ms. Anderson will go and take over the western region which is also now an ACP position, but because of the dynamics of Belize City and the fact that it is a large area, we believe that it is best to have a senior ACP in Eastern Division and then we have the junior ACP go."
Jules Vasquez
"Sir, but its women's month. Are you actively undermining a woman in power by not giving her the tools or the time to make something work, when you know that Belize City is its own ungovernable area."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"I strongly refute your assertion and just say that yes while it is women's month and it is the month for us to celebrate women, Ms. Anderson certainly will be celebrated, because as I said earlier, she is expected to be promoted and for the first time in the history of the department we are going to have 2 female ACP's."
