Over 60 Detained Under State of Emergency Amid Rights Concerns

It’s been a week since a State of Emergency was declared for portions of the Belize and Cayo districts, prompting police detentions under those provisions. More than 60 people have been detained by police with at least half of them taken to the Belize Central Prison. While police say that many more will be taken depending on the results of interviews, the department has come under criticism for the way the SOE powers are being wielded. These criticisms include the department reportedly trading freedom from detention in exchange for weaponry or drugs, and not detaining gang leaders. Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero gave an update on the detentions at this week’s police briefing and addressed those criticisms.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division: “The SOE operations continue. So far thirty five persons were sent to prison. We have anther 35 that are being interviewed and then we will know how much from that amount will be sent to prison today. Several persons were detained, interviews were conducted and then they are vetted and then we determine who is taken to prison, that is all I know.”

Reporter: But are you all trading weapons for freedom ? 

ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division: “Not that I know of no.”

Reporter: So is it your position that the department has not managed to secure any illicit firearms or drugs ?
ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division: “There are are several searches that continue to be done and whenever we find firearms, drugs then those are confiscated or if persons are found then they are arrested, that is all I know.”

We note that despite the SOE declaration last Tuesday, there was a murder in Hunter’s Alley in Belize City on Friday in one of the designated zones.