And while Faber is in the hot seat, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams is off it. That's because after months of public pressure he finally went in at took his COVID 19 vaccine today. He did it at the Police Training academy in Belmopan as an encouragement to the large intake of new recruits. Cherisse Halsall was there as he got the shot along with 109 of his police recruits:
It finally happened, the much encouraged, much debated inoculation of the COMPOL. And while we here at channel 7 had given up home after he stood up our news director, today the COMPOL was back from abroad, in fine form and ready to prove that he was neither needle shy nor anti-vaxxer.
Cherisse Halsall
"Now, if we could quickly ask you about this experience today, you let out a little yelp, did it hurt?"
Chester Williams - Commissioner of Police
"Contrary to what your boss believes I am not afraid of needles and neither had I caught the Covid-19 before as he tried to insinuate, the experience was good I have always said that when it was my time to take the vaccine I would take it and as front line workers police officers I believe that it is important for us to take the vaccine for the simple fact that we interact everyday with people from all walks of life and when we do interact with people we do not know what their medical status is and so it is important for us to do this. It is not like we are well equipped with the different PPE's to protect ourselves and so I believe that the greatest guard that we have against attracting COVID-19 virus is the vaccine."
And on hand for the COMPOL's vaccine was Minister of health Michel Chebat. He thanked the top cop profusely for leading by example and inviting a large group of recruits, possibly the largest single group of Belizeans to be vaccinated in one place, to get their first dose.
Hon. Michel Chebat - Minister of Health
"This is an important process for us at the Ministry of health and wellness, as you know we have a massive vaccination drive campaign going on, we felt that it was important to get the police involved because they are at the front line of this battle and so to get as many of them vaccinated as possible is important. We are thankful that the commissioner shares that view and it is through his assistance that you see the kind of turnout that we have here today. So we are grateful to him and we are especially grateful that he is showing his confidence in this vaccine by being vaccinated himself I think that sends an important message not only to the police men but to the wider community."
But we had to ask about the manner in which the COMPOL chose to send this message and whether he suggested or commanded this widespread move from the department's newest intake.
Chester Williams
"This is a matter of a constitutional issue taking the vaccine is something that a person must decide individually. There is no mandatory vaccination being imposed by the government and so even thought we are a disciplined organization I cannot instruct someone to do something that goes against their health or what they believe may go against their health and so all the recruits who are being vaccinated today are doing so on their own free will and as a matter a fact not all of them are being vaccinated. If it was a command it would be every single one of them."
And while the vaccination rate, even during a pandemic won't be 100% the COMPOL had a message for those of us that are still on the fence and those recruits that didn't get their jab this time around.
Chester Williams
"I have read enough about the AstraZeneca vaccine and I'm satisfied that it is safe and what I am doing is the right thing and I call upon many others to do the same."
Call upon many others to do the same
