The Government of Belize has earmarked one million dollars to boost the Belize Police Department’s crime fighting strategy. This is apart from the annual budget allocated to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Today, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams explained that the monies will be used to increase the department’s technological capacity. Here is how he explained it.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“We continue to look at modernizing the police and to police using technology and one of the things we are going to push on in the next financial year is to make sure that every police vehicle has a dash cam and not just a dash cam that shows what happens outside, but inside. So, it must have that dual focus for both in and out. We are also going to make sure that every police officer or as much as we can, has a bodycam. Often times there are allegations with police officers and we have seen where the bodycams can be used as either a shield or a sword. If it is that you are doing your duty the right way, then you would have no difficulty in ensuring that what is being done is captured on your bodycam. But If it is that you are going to be conducting your duty in such a way that you are not following process or procedures then you would not want the bodycam to capture. When we are looking at expanding our camera surveillance system, we are looking at he fingerprint system, so everything that has to do with technology to enhance policing is what we are going to do. The minister spoke about the issue of the field DNA testing, that is important for us especially in this era. If we have a sample where we can do the field DNA testing and it proves positive then we can send the sample to the lab to get that official result, that way it is going to eliminate the cost to send something to the DNA lab that may not comeback with a match.”
As part of the Police Department’s modernization and upgrade from the budget, Commissioner Williams explained that one of the areas that will also be enhanced has to do with securing and gathering evidence and testing, as well as being able to conduct DNA-testing.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“We’ll be looking at expanding our camera surveillance system. We’re looking at the fingerprint system. So everything that has to do with technology to enhance policing is what we’re going to do. The minister spoke about the issue of DNA, the field DNA testing. That’s a very important thing for us, likewise especially in this area. If we have a sample, for example, where we can do the field DNA testing and it proves positive, then we can then send it, the sample, to the lab to get that official result. That way it’s going to eliminate the cost to send something to the DNA lab that may not come back with a match. So we’ll only be able to send those that we believe will have that match when the time comes. There’s a lot from information technology-wise that the ministry is pushing. All in a view to ensure that we can enhance the police department we, do appreciate the importance of the service that we provide to the Belizean people, and we want to make sure we do so in the most professional and expedient manner as we possibly can.”
Today, thirty-three-year-old Keyren Tzib, a former member of the Belize Coast Guard, was found Guilty of the attempted murder of former member of the coast guard Kurt Hyde, who was shot in the back of the head with an M16 rifle back in April 2015. The incident occurred while Hyde was operating a coast guard vessel on a journey from San Pedro to their Belize City headquarters. The bullet exited Hyde’s head and because of the injury, he has reportedly lost feeling in one side of his face. Tzib claims that the shooting was an accident, however, Justice Candace Nanton, who was overseeing the case, did not believe her statement and found Tzib guilty of attempted murder. While the crown objected heavily to bail being extended to Tzib, her attorney, Darrell Bradley, asked the court to take into consideration Tzib’s PTSD diagnosis, claiming that she is in no condition to be remanded to prison until her sentencing. As a result, Tzib was Justice Nanton granted Tzib bail in the sum of fifteen thousand dollars and three additional sureties of five thousand dollars each. The condition of the bail requires Tzib to undergo psychiatric evaluation, report to the Orange Walk Police station three times a week, and report to the High Court once a week until her sentencing on April twenty-sixth, 2024. She is also not to interfere with Hyde nor his family members.
Earlier today, an accused murderer walked out of the High Court a free man after Justice Candance Nanton rejected the Crown’s main witness statement which it attempted to enter into evidence. That main witness on whom they were relying on is now deceased. Malique Gentle has been acquitted of the stabbing death of twenty-seven-year-old Adrian Hyde which occurred at the corners of Mopan and Vernon streets back in November 2021. The trial which began on February twenty-sixth, concluded on March first with the Justice Nanton dismissing the charge brought against Gentle.
A new trial date has been set for Calaney Flowers, the woman accused of killing the father of her child back in August 2012 when she knocked him down on Freetown Road. At the time, she was charged for the murder of twenty-nine-year-old Lyndon Morrison and the attempted murder of his girlfriend Sochyl Sosa. After years on pretrial detention at the Belize Central Prison, Flowers was acquitted of the charges. She is back in court because the Director of Public Prosecutions has won an appeal and a retrial has been ordered. Flowers will once again stand trial before High Court Justice Derick Sylvester as of June fourteenth, 2024.
The 2024 municipal elections were held across the country one week ago and, for the most part, it went without any major incidents. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams attributes this to the hard work of his police officers. He says that while there were some minor incidents that occurred, the quick response of police officers prevented anything major from happening. He thanked all those policemen and women that worked diligently on that day.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“I must take this opportunity to commend the police officers country wide for the exceptional job done during the election process. We live in a free and democratic process and as such the election must be free, fair and those persons who go to cast their vote must do so in a safe environment. So we the police make sure to provide that environment for them. Yes, there were a few incidents, minor incidents, but the police were quick to be on the ball and were able to defuse those incidents before they escalated to persons being injured or whatever. So again, kudos to the officers who went out and did their utmost best to make sure the election went through without any incidents.”
Over the weekend, Crown Counsel Riis Cattouse called out the Belize Police Department for “flagrant human rights violation”. Crown Counsel Cattouse wrote to the Commissioner of Police following the detention of Aaron Wilson at the Ladyville Police Station. According to the letter, Wilson visited the police station to inquire about one of his employees who was detained on a traffic charge. Cattouse noted that Wilson was detained while at the police station for alleged boisterous behavior. The letter further notes that Wilson was detained for twenty hours, which Cattouse referred to as a breach of Wilson’s human right. A video surfaced, following the detention that showed Wilson and a female police officer engaged in a back and forth. In the video the officer informed Wilson that he was being detained for disrespecting a police officer. ComPol Williams was asked about the letter and the video today.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“I watched the video and the night when Mr. Wilson was released from police custody on bail he reached out to me and sent me the video footage. After viewing them I responded to him and said what I saw does not amount to boisterous behavior. I also advised him to go to the Racoon Street police station to make a report to PSB and that I would have the matter addressed by PSB. I again contacted him yesterday and spoke at length and he said he was going to PSB to make the complaint. I have not checked with PSB if he did go in. You all would know I have a very though stance when it comes to police abuse. And, that is the reason why I do not agree with the statement of the crown council from the DPP office. I think that his statement that he gave to the media, while I agree with some aspects of it, I think it was more defamatory to the police and try to paint the police in such a way that is not true. As members of the media you can say without a doubt that over the years you have seen a tremendous dec4rease in police abuse across the country and that is because of the stance that myself and the minister have taken and even the Human Rights Commission, because he copied the Human Rights Commission, the Human Rights Commission can also attest to the fact that the police department has done a lot with them to try and sensitize the police in terms of human right norms and get the police to adhere to these norms and we have gone at length to make sure we train our officers in the different human rights norms. So for Mr. Cattouse to have said that everyday police are violating the rights of people in this country, that is not true. That is a statement that is far from the truth, and I think he should retract that aspect of his statement and with that I would have no issue in terms of what he has wrote, because the truth is as a law enforcement organization there is a need to ensure we do our jobs in a way that does not infringe the rights of people.”
Should a person applying for a gun license undergo a psychiatric evaluation before receiving approval? That’s one of the questions that reporters asked Commissioner of Police Chester Williams today. He is no longer the authority that issues gun licenses, that responsibility has been transferred to an entire board. But he says when it was his responsibility many gun license were revoked following complaints of misuse and violence. ComPol Williams says he is of the view that if a gun license holder acts irresponsibly that person’s soundness to carry a firearm should be brought into question.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“I would agree with that and I listened to the statement issued by the mental health organization and I have to agree with them. When I was the licensing authority if it is that we have any complaint of a license firearm holder, being involved in any domestic issue or act of violence what I would normally direct the police to do is to retrieve the firearm from that license holder. We would keep the weapon and then my office would then write the license holder and ask him or her to give reasons why in light of the allegation his or her license should not be revoked. And, I can tell you that we revoked many license. There are some instance where persons are charged with crime of violence or domestic issues and then the complainant or victim would withdrew the matter against them. we would still proceed in writing them letter and ask them to show cause why in light of the allegations their license should not be revoked, and we did many revocations on that basis.”
Reporter
“What is your opinion on a red flag law?”
Chester Williams
“That is certainly good, but again, I wouldn’t want to make it a red flag, but if you do nonsense, it must be taken it way.”
The month of March is globally recognized as International Women’s Month, but it is also the month of Kidney Awareness. During this time, various health organizations host campaigns to share information regarding kidney health and shed light on those suffering from various conditions that affect the kidney. Last year, we told you the story of Vicky Samos, a fourteen-year-old student battling Lupus and End Stage Renal Disease, hoping to get a kidney transplant soon. One year later, Vicky is still on dialysis and still holding out hope for that transplant. News Five’s Britney Gordon visited Vicky and her family today, for an update on her condition. Here’s that story.
Vicky Samos
Vicky Samos, Kidney Patient
“Well, there is some days I wake up not feeling good, like tired and without energy, but I try my best to stay strong.”
Britney Gordon, Reporting
It’s been one year since fifteen-year-old Vicky Samos started dialysis. According to the teenager, her body has been responding well to the treatment but there are still days when she feels tired and in pain. For the past two days, the second form student has had to miss classes due to her condition and rising blood pressure and throughout it all, her parents have been there to support her.
Diego Samos
Diego Samos, Father of Patient
“I have been doing my best to get Vicky well. We’re aiming to get her a kidney transplant. She has been diagnosed with lupus, which is an autoimmune disease that attacks its own body. In her case, it attacked her, it attacked her, both of her kidneys. Yes and that eventually led to the kidney failure.”
Last year, her father, Diego Samos, said that he would be the one to donate a kidney to save his daughter’s life if the doctors found that he was a match. Luckily, they did.
Diego Samos
“We have made tremendous progress. We went to Merida last year in December. We went and we did a compatibility test, a cross match test, and I came out that I am a match for her. So we have been following up the kidney transplant protocol, which entails different doctors. We have seen the cardiologists, the dentists, different doctors, and all of them have cleared us. Just a couple of them we have to see but in other words, we are quite ready for a kidney transplant.”
While Vicky and her family are ready to go ahead with the procedure, they have encountered some roadblocks, such as the unavailability of the procedure here in Belize. The biggest challenge, however, is money.
Diego Samos
“It has never been done here in Belize but there is a team from Virginia that is willing to come to Belize to do the transplant. If we do have the facilities. However, we are still awaiting from the Ministry of Health and from the CEO of Karl Heusner to give us a letter of invitation so the team from Virginia could proceed. I guess because of legal issues and other stuff, you know, they need an official letter from Belize.”
Vicky’s mother, Yarheli, said that she’s taken on the role of a personal nurse for her daughter, delivering medication and caring for Vicky when she needs it.
Yarheli Samos
Yarheli Samos, Mother of Patient
“Well, it’s a hard process, but we try every day to do well and good, I try to make she eat healthy. Her diet is the most important. And, yes, just keep her, make she be strong every day. Get up and go to school and give her the motivation.”
Kidney awareness month not only brings awareness to the patients, but also the families doing their work to support them as well. In this case, Vicky’s parents just want to see their daughter happy and healthy.
Diego Samos
“As a parent, it has a very tremendous impact I guess for both of us. It has changed our life completely. We have me personally, now I dedicate my time fully to my, especially to my daughter. And in making sure that she gets well, I make sure that I have the medication, even though it’s very costly. We still do manage to get the medication for her. And like I said, we are doing our best to get this transplant done. And but it’s very hard, but we have people that are assisting us. I don’t know, so we’re coping. And hoping that we get this kidney transplant done as soon as possible.”
Vicky’s biggest hope is for her life to return to normal. Since her diagnosis, she has had to give up playing basketball and has been held back a year from school due to the number of classes she misses. However, she is still retaining her drive towards her dream career.
Vicky Samos “Have a normal life again, like before, go to school normal again, that’s the most Important thing. “I want to major in science in third form. “
Britney Gordon
“Why do you want to be a pediatrician?”
Vicky Samos
“Because I love children.”
As a preventative measure, Samos advises all parents to get their children tested early for these conditions even if they show no symptoms.
Diego Samos
“I would just like to tell the Belizean people to pay keen attention to their children, if you’re feeling ill, if you’re feeling bad, to make sure that they have a doctor check them. Also for all of us adults, children, everyone, we should be taking care of ourselves and if we do have any symptoms, to, to follow it up and not just let time go by because sometimes it’s late, sometimes you could catch things at an early stage.”
The family of Idolly Vairez is desperately trying to locate her after she was reported missing last week. The elderly woman who suffers from Alzheimer’s was last seen on March sixth here in Belize City wearing a pink blouse, floral skirt and a pair of black slippers. Earlier today, News Five visited Vairez’s relatives who have been searching for her over the last eight days.
