And in other news, while many on the Southside may have thought another SOE was being activated this morning, it was actually - as the ComPol refers to it - strategic operational searches.
Several complaints came into our newsroom today about police using excessive force and abusive tactics. One man says police have been harassing him almost everyday, even locking him up during the SOE. He came to our studio today.
Robert McDonald, Harassed by Police
"Every other day they come, I'm a fisherman and they just come, I'm wanted, they want to detain me so I can't move how I want, I want to go to sea to deal with my traps, can't move, can't go to sea. I'm not making any money and this is throwing me off. they said they're looking for criminals doing crime. For sure I'm not doing any crime right now so I don't know how they say they're looking for criminals. The other day they sent me to jail for the SOE, when they sent me to jail for SOE, I went to jail two weeks and change."
"This morning they ran up to the house like usual every time they come, 3, 4 truck a lot of police come, when they came in the yard, people are talking to them, they disrespect people, like oh they don't come to hurt people, you are police, you're public officers. We're supposed to watch you as people that will help us not people who will bring us down to the ground if we're not doing anything."
"I lost 5 brothers and my father"
Reporter
"To gang violence?"
Robert McDonald, Harassed by Police
"Yes gang violence, that's why I gave up the street life and we're at sea."
We should note that McDonald has lost 5 siblings and his father to gang violence.
Police Department Hosts Open Day for Schoolchildren
And while there were many complaints coming to our newsroom today about police excesses, there are still positive community engagements.
Today the Belize Police Department hosted an Open Day for schoolchildren to learn about the intricacies and the outreach of police work. Jaleeza Roberts attended and found out more about police work beyond the uniform and arrests:
Coast Guard Fathers Honored at Annual Luncheon
There are 150 fathers in the Coast Guard ranks, and today they were celebrated for their duality: serving and protecting on the seas, while also providing, protecting, and leading their families. The Coast Guard held its annual Father's Day luncheon today and their commander discussed its importance.
PM Went to World Cup Opener
The World Cup is on its second week and the PM is just as excited as football fans all around the world are. Having attended the opening match in Mexico City, the PM shared what it was like at Azteca stadium:
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"My team has always been Brazil, second um Argentina, but um it's quite unlikely that they are going to get to the finals, so probably Spain."
Jules Vasquez
"You saw a match or will you see a match? What is, what is your status? With the World Cup, you- I mean, will you be going? Many Belizeans, it's in Mexico."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Yeah. Well, I, I bought my own tickets. So FIFA did not give any tickets, so, um, I bought my own tickets.I, I went to the opening and hopefully I'll be able to see at least one more, at least one more game."
Jules Vasquez
"How is the, how was the experience?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"It's exciting. Mexico is exciting to be there and, um, we managed to get good seats. Well, it helped that, that each country has, um, amount of seats allotted to sell."
"So we managed to get tickets through here, or we paid for it. They're not free. And, um, so we managed to get decent seats and, um, it was an exciting game. Um, Mexico played very well. It was their home, their home field."
"Uh, but the whole presentation, the show that they did, the renovation of Azteca with, um, I think Banda Norte, uh, name, but it will always be Azteca, um, has been amazing."
Mexico will be taking on South Korea in tonight's match.
