The last state of emergency ended less than two months ago, and though the ComPol and the Minister of Home Affairs stressed that it was a well-strategized one, here we are again, with another SOE - and just 6 weeks later.
And this despite the regular criticisms of this blunt law enforcement tool by the PUP while they were in opposition. The Minister has commented previously that SOEs are a last resort, so today we asked the ComPol whether all other police strategies have failed, and if he thinks the crime will increase again once the men are released.
Courtney Menzies:
"States of Emergency have always been critiqued as being a failure of policing strategies, and being a bandaid solution, you lock up these criminals for one to three months, I assume this one is three months, and then you let them out, it settles down for a little while and then it just starts up again."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"That's a critique from your news director, right? We have to be real, that's the narrative of Channel 7 and we respect your opinion but at the end of the day as a law enforcement organization and a primary one in Belize, we have a responsibility to the people and if it is that we have to implement measures that is going to work for a period of time until we can look at longer lasting measures, then it is going to happen. I believe that the SOE will work for the purpose with which it is being implemented and again, it has a lot to do with making sure that we go after the right people and that's the reason why we have our intelligence unit put together the list of persons who we have credible information against, are involved in the ongoing feuds across the city. I am sure that you will be quite comfortable once the peace comes when all these people are in prison, you'll be able to walk the streets without having to worry about being caught by a stray away bullet, that is what we want. Citizen security is important for everybody, including you and your news director."
Courtney Menzies:
"Sir but what do you think will happen in three months, these men in prison, they get agitated, they lose their jobs, they can't make money, they're not seeing their families, what do you think happens after the three months?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"I'm not a fortune teller, I can't say what happens in three months time, but at the end of the day I can tell you what will happen between now and the three months period is that we will do what needs to be done to keep the criminals at bay. They need to get the sense that we have had enough and if the three months come and they come out and do foolishness then they're going back in again. It's as simple as that."
Reporter:
"You're saying you're going to an international conference, do you get any feedback on these SOE's the same way I imagine people would comment on what El Salvador is doing?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"You think that Bukele is the most influential world leader for no reason? You think so? Come on, Marisol. SOE's is something that many countries in the regions are looking at because they see how effective it has worked in Salvador and every government wants the people to be safe, want the people to be free. Our government is no different. Our prime minister, our minister have been harping the importance of making sure that we keep our Belizean people and our visitors safe. That's the reason why they invest in the police department, that's the reason why we get more police officers and that's the reason why we have to take measures like these to make sure of the safety of our people. Yes there is a handful of people who are out there trying to create havoc for us, but their rights cannot trample the rights of the majority. We are a free and democratic society and we must make sure that we do our utmost best to make our people as free as we possibly can."
