But while the BPD is slow to act on Makin, they wasted no time in re-arresting the ComPol's brother, Arthur Williams for comments he made on social media. The comments reportedly went against his bail agreement and he was charged a second time.
But Barrow feels as though the ComPol is criminalizing criticism against him and using the cyberbullying laws to take advantage of his brother. He added that he is trying to assist Williams with an attorney, but so far, hasn't had any luck.
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"The Commissioner likes to talk about the UDP not having its house in order, well, when you reach to a point where you're sending the police to arrest and charge and lock up your own brother for expressing his opinions on matters that I think he would know about in Stann Creek West and wherever else and recently Arthur Williams made an ambiguous comment and he was dragged back before the court and it is alarming. You hear about how the ComPol talks about me and how he chastises me, isn't that considered cyberbullying? And then when I lash back at him, I don't do it with any malice, I just deal with the facts and deal with the statistics. So what now? I'm going to press charges against him for cyberbullying and them him likewise? How is he applying his power and his discretion when he is turning a family dispute into a criminal matter whereas before defamation and if you abuse your freedom of speech, that was a civil matter."
"If you would go to some of these pages, you could see people saying things about me and the UDP all day everyday. They have a bunch of fake pages right now that were made up for the Toledo East bi-elections and they say all types of things. I think as politicians, we have to have a balance, if something is completely outrageous and it is a lie, I believe the civil court is the preferable course of action to take."
"And then he said his brother may have mental issues, if this is the case then the criminal courts is certainly not the place for his brother."
"And then I tried to assist with a lawyer because you know the criminal justice system in Belize, if you don't have a lawyer, you'd be taken advantage of."
"And no lawyer wanted to take the case, that says a lot."
