Police Commissioner Issues Warning Amid Gang Violence

Police Commissioner Chester Williams has issued a warning to residents, particularly, the gang elements and their enablers.  On Friday, Williams noted that he was contemplating another round of preventative detentions, but when he appeared on Open Your Eyes this morning, he instead, issued a warning of increased operations.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: “Some of them need to get out of circulation for an extended period of time so that they get the sense. All I will say to the Belizean people and in particular the residents of Belize City, the police will do what is necessary to restore peace. And who wants to cry that 

“my son innocent” or “my son this”, they can lock themselves up in a room and cry. Which I know that you all will give them air time when that time comes. But we will do what is necessary. These persons perpetrating these criminal acts need to be held accountable and we cannot and will not allow them to hold this city hostage. The police will do a lot through, GI3, we continue to rely on GI3 in terms of bringing gang charges. We try as best as we can to rely on CIB in getting evidence to charge for crimes committed. And we continue to rely on our SPU and MIT, the operational arm of our department to keep a pressure on those persons who are trying to hold us hostage. And I will end it at that.”

The recent spate of crime and violence includes two murders in Belize City over the weekend and multiple shooting incidents between and among rivalry gangs.  Commissioner Williams also spoke on the social events that trigger and exacerbate the tensions in the city.  One particular event he spoke on was the Trinibad Party on June 15 at The Tavern.