On Monday, we got to interview the Commissioner of Police Richard Rosado for the first time in about 5 months. There were no great revelations - except for the fact that he fell in line just like. Everyone else in refusing to even acknowledge that a crime occurred in the heart of Orange Walk town on the night of-August 22nd. Jules Vasquez looks at the long history of avoidance of a very basic fact by the elected office pals and law enforcement:
By now every Belizean has probably seen what happened to Joseph Budna on the night of August 22nd. The DPP has clearly outlined the criminality of what happened in plain view on a public street:
Cheryl Lynn Vidal, DPP
"Obviously a crime has been committed. I don't believe there is any doubt in relation to whether or not a crime has been committed."
"A Belizean citizen was in Belize. He is now in a Guatemalan prison. It was not his intention to go to that Guatemalan prison. And he has spoken and he has said what happened to him. A crime has been committed."
And for simply stating the obvious, she stands alone. Because all these months later - not a single elected or law enforcement official has acknowledged that something illegal happened that night.
October 06
Jules Vasquez
"So reference the two surveillance video footage. Have you seen them yet?"
Kareem Musa, Min. - Home Affairs
"I have not seen them yet. Jules."
Jules Vasquez
"Have in any routine way reviewed the surveillance video?"
Sep 29
Bart Jones, Ag Commissioner of Police
"As I, as I have indicated to the media before, I did not. It is not because of any disinterest, but the investigation is ongoing and so I will allow that to go through."
Jules Vasquez
"But, here, sir, you are to protect the law and order in this country. That's an outlaw event that happened in plain view. Everybody in this society has seen it. Why not the chief law enforcement officer?"
Bart Jones, Ag Commissioner of Police
"As I have said, all of that will in due time will be addressed."
And on Monday, the Commissioner of Police continued the farce by trying to hide behind the veil of an investigation - which we should note police long finished and handed over to the DPP:
Dr. Richard Rosado, Commissioner of Police
"I will not comment on any ongoing investigation or pre judge any ongoing investigation."
Reporter
"The DPP also said that clearly a crime was committed on August 22nd that has landed a Belizean citizen, namely Budna, in jail. And so do you believe that night that a crime was committed?"
Dr. Richard Rosado, Commissioner of Police
"I will not comment on any ongoing investigation or prejudge any ongoing investigation."
145 days after the abduction - the commissioner is still stonewalling on even the barest of facts - but, it's at least better than what he did the last time when he spoke to us - when he knowingly misrepresented the truth.
