Commissioner Chester Williams Prepares to Exit Police Role for New CEO Post

Police Commissioner Chester Williams says he is ready to fully take on his new role as the Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Constitution and Religious Affairs, Indigenous Affairs, and Transportation. His remarks came this morning in an interview with the media where he rejected the narrative from a local media house that he was being instructed to only serve as a caretaker of the police department until he transitions to his new assignment. The reports say that Williams had already been notified via an official letter from the CEO of Home Affairs, but the Commissioner has rejected those reports. As a matter of fact, Williams says he is hoping to have his exit package finalized soon so he can leave the Belize Police Department and take on his new role.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: “I will only say that the CEO has no authority to write such letter. I have not seen it but if that is so she has no authority. My appointment comes from the Governor General and so only the Governor General can alter the terms of my authority as Commissioner of Police or the Prime Minister. So that is all I’m going to say in respect of that. In term of my timeline I have advised the Cabinet Secretary that I want to leave as quick as possible. It’s a matter of the Cabinet Secretary and the Prime Minister working out my exit package and once that is done I am prepared to leave. I am excited about going to take over a new role. I believe it is going to be something good for me, it’s a new opportunity for me to be able to go and apply myself with a view to see how I can continue to contribute to the safety of this country.”

As the Chief Executive Officer, Williams will be working with Minister Dr. Louis Zabaneh.