Commissioner Williams Defends State of Emergency Amid Criticism

While there have been several murders since the police declared a State of Emergency in portions of the Belize and Cayo Districts, the Commissioner of Police says the move was successful. Last month, the police rounded up several alleged gang members and sent them to the Belize Central Prison for one month. The decision came after three men, including a cop, had been killed in gang rivalries, and sought to stop the bloodshed. Since then, many have criticized the SOE and its efficacy. In response, the Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams is sticking to his guns and says the SOE has been successful so far, and there are certain crimes that cannot be prevented. 

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: “Certainly the type of murders that the SOE is geared to prevent it is working for that reason. The murders we’re seeing now those acts of jealousy and those domestic types of murders are extremely difficult to prevent because we don’t know when a man is going to decide to go and kill the current boyfriend of his ex girlfriend, it’s difficult.”

Police are still looking for several men that eluded detention under the SOE.