Bart Jones Seeks Judicial Review in Deputy Commissioner of Police Appointment Case

The High Court of Belize granted Deputy Commissioner of Police Bart Jones leave to apply for judicial review yesterday after he brought a case against the Security Services Commission. DCP Jones feels aggrieved by the police’s decision to promote Doctor Richard Rosado to the post of Deputy Commissioner of Police with effect from July 1, 2021. Jones is seeking a declaration that the decision was unlawful because there was no vacant post of Deputy Commissioner of Police that existed on the date. The senior cop is also seeking vindicatory damages for a breach of his constitutional rights. And it seems he may have a chance of success in the court.  Justice Genevieve Chabot said that Jones demonstrated agreeable ground and found that quote, “Mr. Jones has raised arguable grounds that the decision personally affected him because it upended seniority in the Department.” Jones now has fourteen days to apply for judicial review.