And of course, it wouldn't be a press briefing by the Leader of the Opposition if he did not call out the Minister of Police and the ComPol. Today he spoke about the supposed gun license moratorium, which Minister Musa said was in place since the firearms amendment was signed into law. But as we reported, the Commissioner has said it's still not signed, so is the moratorium still in place?
We're not sure, but today Barrow said that the minister was ultimately incompetent with managing the police. He also called out ComPol Williams for suspending media briefings because of Channel 7's reporting.
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"It is very, very deplorable, very disappointing. And I think the esteemed director of Channel 7 said it best when he opined that the minister of police is responsible ultimately and is complicit. Whether he is actually involved in the sales of gun license, I won't go that far, but his incompetence, his abject haplessness when it comes to managing the ministry of police has been shameful and we really need to have new leadership at the level of the minister and the commissioner of police."
"When you look at the commissioner of police suspending press briefings because he doesn't like the way that particular journalist questions him. That is, look how we had an excited exchange based on your opinions."
"I have my opinions and what did I try to do? I try to bring us to the middle. It doesn't mean that you're going to change how you feel, but I don't take, you're doing your job. That's your job. Your job is to ask me these questions."
"My job is to respond and communicate as clearly to the people of Belize that elected me and the commissioner has a responsibility. I guess he feels only to the prime minister that appointed him, but he does have a responsibility to the people of Belize and so he should answer the questions."
"But this is just another highlight in the dismal real of just malperformance, maladministration of the PUP government."
