And while that was a proud win for law enforcement, the police department is still haunted by the shame of its involvement in the abduction of a Belizean citizen and his extrajudicial extradition to Guatemala.
It is a crime that has gone un-punished. No one has been criminally charged. And there has been scarce admission even that a crime occurred.
So, we put the new CEO through the paces today - to see if he would acknowledge that at least a crime occurred.
Jo-
"As CEO for Home Affairs, do you believe that a crime happened in Orange Walk Town on August 22nd, 2025, 100ft from the police station where Joseph Budna was abducted?"
Elton Bennett, CEO - Ministry of Home Affairs
"Yes,. I believe you asked me if I believe a crime was committed, Yes. Someone was abducted. That's a crime."
Jo-
"And if so, who do you believe is responsible for that?"
Elton Bennett, CEO - Ministry of Home Affairs
"Let the judicial process take its course. It's currently back in the police department. It went over to the DPP. The file was reviewed by the DPP. She had some additional questions that she wanted answered, so she sent it back to the police department. So the police department is now responsible for further investigation to satisfy the prosecution file. So that is where it is now."
Jo-
"The person identified as police officers can be seen on camera beating and abducting Budna. Does this not concern you?"
Elton Bennett, CEO - Ministry of Home Affairs
"If it concerns me? Of course it does. What would you think it does not concern me?"
Reporter-
"So you consider that the investigation that, well we don't even know. We would understand that since the file is with the DPP, the police isn't doing anything else?"
Elton Bennett, CEO - Ministry of Home Affairs
"No I said the file was with the DPP. The DPP sent it back to the police. So the file is no longer with the DPP. The file is now with the police department to answer the questions that the DPP had asked for us to answer."
Reporter-
"When did that come back from the DPP?"
Elton Bennett, CEO - Ministry of Home Affairs
"That's, about two months ago."
Reporter-
"Oh wow so progress is being made?"
Elton Bennett, CEO - Ministry of Home Affairs
"It's progress. I mean, there is investigation that is continuing. There is dialogue in between the Commissioner of Police and the DPP. There's dialogue in between the ministry of home affairs and the DPP and the investigators to ensure that we do our due diligence, in terms to satisfy the investigation. Evidently, the DPP wanted more answers, and so the file was sent back. So there is constant back and forth. It's not lying in state. There is constant review of the investigation."
