And rather than be glad, the Mesopotamia Area Rep says the Commissioner needs to focus much more broadly on citizen security. And he says Chester is not the person for that job. Yesterday we asked the LOO about the COMPOL crashing into his political turf:.
Jules Vasquez
"He would be doing a meet and greet in the Mesopotamia constituency, the commissioner of police on Wednesday. What do you make of this?"
Shyne Barrow, UDP Leader
"You know Chester is irrelevant and insignificant in the scheme of what I am trying to accomplish. The prime minister is the chair of the national security council. The prime minister is the one that appoints the commissioner of police and he needs to move swiftly to put new and effective leadership there and I just want to see production. I want to see solution. I want to see the end of femicide, the end of genocide, the end of homicides in our country. I don't want to be debating whether it was 10 less or 3 less. We really need to turn a corner and create a sense of security, a sense of accountability, increase the conviction rate. There is so much that needs to be done, so much investments that needs to be done within the Belize police department, but the leadership is very important and right now they are extremely lacking in that regard."
Jules Vasquez
"You never answered the question about Chester."
Shyne Barrow, UDP Leader
"I said inconsequential insignificant. You're trying to make this a thing about him and I. I am the leader of the opposition."
Jules Vasquez
"I'm getting the impression he's trying to toy with you."
Shyne Barrow, UDP Leader
"That's what I am saying, this is not a toy, JV. I notice when Miss Moralez passed away, the commissioner was on facebook talking about the play-ups, he wasn't talking about this gruesome execution of a mother of 2 and so again, disconnected, out of touch. So it really isn't a personal thing, it is a national thing and our nation needs leadership in citizen security that is effective."
