On Friday aired the painful account of abuse that Kayjah Burgess claims she endured at the hands of her step-father.
Kayjah claims to her account of these abuses throughout the years has been rejected first by her mother and more recently, when she chose to go public with the allegations, by the Police department.
Today the pressure shifted to Police Communications Officer Fitzroy Yearwood - who's been criticized - even in parliament - for allegedly running interference to protect a relative from charges. Cherisse Halsall looked at his response and the broader story:
posted (May 13, 2022)
Kayjah Burgess, Alleged Victim of Sexual Abuse
"I trusted this man because my mom had him around so my mom having him around meant that she trusted him so I should have trusted him well that is what I felt but throughout the year everything that this man did to me he caused me depression and anxiety, this man."
"It started just by a little rub on the leg and from there this man went off."
That alleged abuser was referenced in the House of Representatives on Friday when the leader of the opposition made claims that his connections within the police department were effectively obstructing justice.
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"There is a young lady by the name of Kajah Burgess, who was allegedly raped by her stepfather when she was a child and recently went to the police station to file a report and she was turned away because the accused person is affiliated with the press officer of the Ministry of police I believe or the commissioner's office and so a lawyer had to take her in there to make that report."
But today when asked about the ongoing dispute, relative of the accused ASP Fitzroy Yearwood said that he has yet to receive the complaint.
Courtney Menzies
"She said that Mr Williams, ComPol, intervened for them to finally make her statement. Some people are saying that it's because you're connected to the person she's making the accusation against, that's why she's being treated a certain way."
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood, Communications Officer
"I am very disappointed by people who may have said that, including a member of the House of Representatives. Unfortunately on Friday, I was watching the Sitting of the House when a member of that House made a comment. I have since consulted my attorney because as we all know, I'm the police public relation officer, so you're not referring to anybody else. And I would never interfere with any investigation being carried out by the police department against any member of my family or the broader public. I have built my career for the past 26 years and many people could make any allegation against you, it is your right to lawyer up and fight that allegation. I could recall a former prime minister saying that if they killed his sister, it wouldn't be him they would bury. And I'm very disappointed in how the public or the media members are trying to lay blame on me for this. I do not interfere as I said. And as long as something doesn't concern me and it is not sent to me, I do not respond to it."
No charges have been brought against the alleged perpetrator and there is currently no timeline in which charges are expected to be brought.
And this morning Fitzroy Yearwood denied any claims that Kayjah Burgess's report would have been intentionally refused - as made by Burgess's attorney on Friday.
OJ Elrington, Attorney-At-Law
"By the time it is that we stepped in there was an undertaking by senior members of the Belize police department that they would accept the statement after several calls were made and they were alerted of the situation they decided that they would accept the statement."
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood, Communications Officer
"It is not a practice of the police to turn anyone away when you come to make a report and I am certain that the commissioner of police will address this if any officers did any such thing like that, and as soon as I get a copy of the formal report, I will make that available to you."
Police have not brought any charges based on the complaint.
We continue to seek comment from Burgess's alleged assailant but as of this evening, he continued to decline.
