And back in Belize, what will police be doing when the storm makes landfall on the Yucatan?
While you're preparing to hunker down or move to a shelter, police officers will be on duty, ensuring that you're kept safe from other dangers. According to the ComPol, it's a thankless job, but one that needs to be done.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"You see Jules that's why you have to go easy on the police sometimes and don't think that we are superhumans. it's the hardest job and it's the most thankless job. But again, as police officers, we we have a responsibility as much as we have all of these things coming down on us at once we have to remain formidable. We have to remain committed. We have to try and maintain a high spirit to be able to execute our job the way we should. The public expect a lot from us, and rightfully so, and we must do our best to meet public expectations. So the hurricane or a tropical storm, whichever way it might come, coming our way, we have to be prepared. we met yesterday as the command structure. and, the commanders were told to activate their hurricane plans. Look at what we need in terms of supplies for officers who are going to be in the areas to be affected, as well as to make sure that we look at the hurricane shelters. We are working in tandem with NEMO. We get our instructions from Nemo in terms of how we move where the hurricane is concerned. But as a department, we must also put together our own contingency. So we already advise officers to make sure they look after their own personal security or safety of their families, so that if or when the time come that they need to engage in hurricane duties, they won't have to be worrying about their families, where their families are. So again, it's a situation where police officers will have to leave their families to take care of other people. That's the vicissitudes of being a police officer. And we do this every day with pride and commitment, because we are adamant in making sure that we serve our Belizean people the best way possible we can."
What If Storm Pulls Down CFE Powerlines In Yucatan?
But will the power go out in Belize when he storm hits Mexico?
BEL says that today it experienced a peak power demand of 110 Megawatts while the total available in-country supply was 110.5 Megawatts and Mexico's available supply to Belize was 54 MegaWatts.
They add that during the passage of the storm, CFE, in Mexico, will continue to supply power to Belize as long as it can. If their grid is affected, it may impact their ability to deliver energy to Belize.
Less than re-assuringly, Bel says, quote, "we remain diligent in making adjustments where necessary. Our commitment remains to keep the community informed of any updates to the energy landscape as they become available."
ComPol Confused About Brother's Recent Behavior
In other news, on Monday we told you that the ComPol's brother was detained after he breached his bail conditions by posting about Williams and the police department on social media. At the time of his detention, Arthur Williams' court case had just been adjourned. He has since been charged with contempt of judicial order and was released on bail again, this time of $1,000 plus one surety.
Today the ComPol explained that he's not sure why his brother is so malicious towards him, considering they were once close.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"There was a situation yes where after the shooting on my house, my brother posted on social media that he was upset with the gunman because the gunman wasted the bullet and shot in the air, in other words he was trying to suggest that gunman should have either shot me or my son. He had been on court bail for the previous incident and to have gone on social media and post such comment is a violation of his bail condition so he was picked up and I believe that he is going to be arraigned before the court today."
Jules Vasquez:
"So should his bail be revoked and should he be sent to jail?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"I don't want to wish bad for him after all, he is my mother's son, I cannot change that. I wish he would change the way he behaves because I personally have not done anything to him. I have always tried my best to reach out to him, when he needed help I was there for him. All of a sudden he became this totally different person, I don't know if there is maybe something psychologically wrong with him, maybe the court should order that there be a psychological evaluation on him but something is definitely wrong. I was hoping to see if there could have been some mediation, as a matter of fact the mayor of Dangriga, Mr Mariano, who happens to be our relative had called me once, so did Mr Arzu, he's a very good friend of both of us, they bother had called me and said they would like to have a sit down with me and my brother to see how this matter could be resolved and I said to them, I have no issue and my intention was that whenever the matter would have been called up before the court again, I would have withdrawn the matter against him because h's my brother. Both gentlemen spoke to me, they spoke to him, and we're supposed to have that sit down but the next day after they spoke to me and said to me what was his intention, trying to resolve the issue, he was on social media posting things again. How can I sit down with somebody who is constantly saying things and doing the contrary so based on that, I decided I am not going to have a sit down again, just leave the matter to go through the court and let it take its course."
Arthur Williams' next court date is set for August 20th.
Cops Need Complaint Before Cyberbullying Charges
And Williams' arrest was under the cyberbullying law. The same law that can threaten any one who has posted or shared recently leaked videos.
In the case of the video involving a minor forced to perform a sexual act, the ComPol said the police are still looking for the perpetrator, despite the Minister saying on Monday that she was detained.
And in terms of the other viral videos, Williams said they just need a complainant to come forward to set the wheels in motion.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"That investigation is still ongoing. I'm not sure if the aunt has been detained. I know that the mother and the child, were found by the police, and, the police had recorded statements from both of them. And the aunt was being sought. The aunt is the one who had caused the child to perform that lewd activity on her. And, once she's found she is going to be charged for that. The other incident, I think you speak about is the one involving the attorney and some other woman. Again, people seemingly are not getting the effect of the cyber bullying legislation. some people believe that if they receive and they just forward, that they are not in violation. But the last speaks to either creating, publishing or sharing. So if you receive it and you further share it, then you also commit to offense of cyberbullying. And it can be a video, a photograph or even text could amount to cyberbullying so long as it is done with the intention to intimidate or to subject the person to public humiliation or embarrassment. And when you look at the content of photographs and video footage is even some comments that some people post. It is certainly being done with the intent to subject those persons to public ridicule and embarrassment. So it falls within the limits of cyberbullying."
Jules Vasquez:
"But still, the complaint would have to be made?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Yes, a complaint will have to be made by the person or persons whom the post would effect."
Jules Vasquez:
"So then if a person has been victimized by these very malicious posts, they should make a complaint and the poster would then be detained and possibly charged?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Certainly, yes."
Camp Wanted For Cyberbullying
And another man who currently has arrest warrants out for cyberbullying is Joseph Camp. In a flurry of post last week, he made several serious allegations against the Commissioner's son as well as Williams' car dealership.
Today the ComPol said that they're not the only ones with grievances against Camp.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"The police currently have, I think, about four arrest warrants for Joseph Camp. not just for complaints by me. there was also a complaint made by my son. he posted a number of things about my son, which are not true. If my son don't even live in Belize. My son live in Taiwan, where he's studying. And so for him to have said the things that he said about my son is totally outrageous. And there is also complaint against him from other members of the public. So I believe that he is
emboldened to make these comments because he is not in Belize. And so he uses the place where he is to make those comments from there. I had also reported him to the US embassy and, I'm hoping that they will see what they can do to be able to help to address the issue with his concern. He cannot come to Belize and feel like he can do what he want with Belizeans, and get away with it, because his constant cry is that he's an American citizen. He's an American citizen. Like to see that because he's an American citizen, he's above us Belizeans, which is not the case. I believe that, Belizeans and Americans and any other national are important people, and we will not allow ourselves to be subject to, a person diminishing our nationality."
Jules Vasquez:
"He made some really, heavy allegations in there. Were you at all concerned by the allegations he made alleging that your business activities are being monitored by greater international authorities?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"I'm not concerned because, you know it's not true."
