July, 2024 - Channel 5 Belize

ComPol Wants His Brother to Face the Court

Commissioner of Police Chester Williams has once again ordered the detention of his brother and the Crimes Investigation Branch wasted no time arresting and charging Arthur Roy Williams for an alleged social media post that was in circulation over the weekend. This morning, Williams appeared before the lower court for another charge which was brought against him back in February. Upon the conclusion of that matter, he was approached by C.I.B. personnel who informed him of the reason he was being detained. It is alleged that on June twentieth, Williams posted a questionable Facebook message. That message was immediately recorded by the Cyber Crimes Unit. When asked if he believes that he has violated the terms of his bail condition, Williams said the post for which he is being blamed was simply forwarded to him by someone else. In February, Williams was charged with two counts of using a computer system to disseminate false statement with the intent to cause another person to be subject to ridicule or embarrassment, and one count of using a computer system to publish computer data to intimidate a person. The condition of the bail stipulated that he was not to use any form of social media to speak about his brother, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams, or any member of the Belize Police Department.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“There was a situation, yes, where after the shooting at my house, my brother posted on social that he was upset with the gunman because the gunman wasted the bullet and shot it in the air. In other words, he suggested that the gunman should have either shot me or my son. He had been on court bail for the previous incident and to have gone on social media and posted such comment is a violation of his bail condition, so based on that he was picked up and I believe that he is going to be arraigned before the courts today.”

Reporter

“So should his bail be revoked and should he be sent to jail?”

Chester Williams

“I don’t want to wish bad for him. After all, he is my mother’s son. I cannot change that. I wish he would change the way he behaves because I personally have not done anything to him. I’ve always tried my best to reach out to him and when he needed help I was there for him. All of a sudden he became this totally different person and I don’t know if there is maybe something psychologically wrong with him. Maybe the court should order that there be a psychological evaluation on him, but something is definitely wrong. I was shopping to see if there could have been some mediation. As a matter of fact, the Mayor of Dangriga, Mr Mariano who happens to be our relative had called me once and so did Mr Arzu. He is a very good friend to both of us. They both had called me and said they would like to have a sit-down with me and my brother to see how this matter can be resolved. I said to them I have no issue and my intention was that whenever the matter would have been called up before the courts again I would have withdrawn the matter against him because he’s my brother. Both gentlemen spoke to me and him and we’re supposed to have that sit-down, but the day after they spoke to me and said what was his intention of trying to resolve the issue, he was on social media posting thing again. So how, how can I sit down with somebody who, um, is constantly saying things and do the contrary? So based on that I decided, you know, I’m not going to, um, have no sit down again. I’m going to just leave the matter to go through the court and take its course.”

ComPol Explains Cyberbullying Law

As it relates to the crime of cyberbullying, Commissioner Williams said it appears that some individuals do not grasp what the cyberbullying law stipulates and what is punishable by law. He says that if you receive data and or images virtually and share it, you are breaking the law.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“People seemingly are not getting the effect of the cyber bullying legislation. Some people believe that if they receive and it is forward that they are not in violation, but the law speaks to either creating, publishing, or sharing. So if you receive it and you further share it, then you also commit the offense of cyberbullying. And it can be a video, a photograph, or even text, it’s cyberbullying. So long as it is done with the intention to intimidate or to subject the person to public humiliation or embarrassment. And when you look at the content of the photographs and video footages, even some comments that some people post, it has certainly been done with intent to subject those persons to public ridicule and embarrassment. So it falls within the limits of cyberbullying.”

Reporter

“But still a complaint would have to be made?”

Chester Williams

“Yes, a complaint would have to be made by the persons whom the post would affect.”

Where is Joseph Camp, Wanted for Cyber Bullying?

One of the persons accused of cyber-bullying lately is Joseph Camp, a man who has come out slamming the commissioner’s son. Today, Commissioner Williams said that Camp, who is currently away, could face several charges if he puts his foot back in Belize.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“The police currently have about four arrest warrants for Joseph Camp, not just for complaints by me. There was also a complaint made by my son. He posted a number of things about my son, which are not true. As a matter of fact, my son doesn’t even live in Belize. My son lives in Taiwan where he’s studying. And so for him to have said the things that he said about my son is totally outrageous. And there is also a complaint against him from other members of the public. So, I believe that he is emboldened to make these comments because he’s not in Belize. And so he uses the place where he is to make those comments from there. I had also reported him to the U. S. Embassy. And, I’m hoping that they will see what they can do to be able to help to address the issue where he’s concerned. He cannot come to Belize and feel like he’s in Belize. He can’t do what he want to Belizeans and get away with it because his constant criy is that he’s an American citizen, as if to say that because he’s an American citizen, he’s above us Belizeans, which is not the case. I believe that Belizeans and Americans and any other national are important people and we will not allow ourselves to be subject to a person diminishing our nationality. That cannot happen.”

Jahiem Fuller is Charged for Deadly Orange Walk Attack

On Sunday morning, sixty-year-old Norman Gillett and Leon Tasher came under gunfire as they entered a property in the Palmar Boundary neighborhood of Orange Walk. Someone in a vehicle approached and shot at them, mortally wounding Gillett and injuring Tasher. Earlier today, police formally arrested and charged twenty-three-year-old Jahiem Fuller, a resident of Orange Walk Town, for the crimes of murder and attempted murder.

Shootings of ComPol’s House and Police Station are Brazen Acts

The recent attacks on the police station in Roaring Creek followed by the shots fired at the commissioner’s house is something that some would say is an indictment on the performance of the Police Department. It can also be seen as blatant disrespect for the Commissioner of Police and his officers. But the Minister of Home Affairs, Kareem Musa said today that the incidents are signs of the brazenness of criminals today.

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs

“What it speaks to is the brazenness within which these young men are now operating. And so, there is actually no indictment on the police department, when in fact, the police department acted swiftly in detaining those responsible, for that very heinous crime. And so, it just speaks to a level of brazenness that we are now seeing in the young men. And again, I want to congratulate the police officers who acted very swiftly in detaining not just the young man, but there are other suspects as well being detained as we speak.”

3 Businesses Ticketed for Price Gouging

A storm is approaching the Yucatan Peninsula and Belizeans are heeding the advice of the National Emergency Management Organization by stocking up on food and emergency supplies. It is the job of the Supplies Control Unit under the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise to ensure that businesses do not engage in price gouging practices. Over the past two days, nine businesses were issued tickets for violations of the regulations in the Cayo and Belize districts, including Eric’s Supermarket in the West Landivar area, which was found to be price gouging. These violations include failing to display the prices of controlled goods and selling a controlled good for above the controlled price. In a statement released today, the Supplies Control Unit assured the public that that it will continue inspection activities and will engage local authorities to identify and address violations and reminds business owners that the controlled price for sixteen-ounce sliced bread is two dollars and ten cents and not two dollars and twenty-five cents. The public is advised to report suspected violations to the unit.

What Are the Latest Crime Figures?

Senior members of the Belize Police Department are gathering at the University of Belize’s Belmopan campus for their quarterly ComStat Conference. This event provides officers with the opportunity to share and discuss data from various districts and chart a path forward for more effective crime-fighting efforts.

Discussions are expected to include the recent increase in gun violence in the Old Capital and parts of the Cayo Districts and the ongoing state of emergency in affected areas.

Hurricane Beryl Targets Jamaica with Potentially Devastating Impact

Current Status: Hurricane Beryl, a Category 4 storm, is rapidly advancing west-northwest in the northern Caribbean Sea, closing in on Jamaica. On Beryl’s eastern side, bands of heavy rain are impacting Haiti, raising concerns about potential flooding and mudslides.

Impact Forecast

– Jamaica: Beryl is expected to hit Jamaica on Wednesday with potentially devastating winds, particularly in mountainous regions, and a life-threatening storm surge reaching 6 to 9 feet above normal tide levels. Torrential rain could lead to flash flooding and landslides, marking the strongest hurricane strike on Jamaica since Hurricane Dean in 2007.

– Cayman Islands: On Wednesday night and Thursday, Beryl is forecasted to make its closest approach to the Cayman Islands, especially Grand Cayman, bringing storm surge flooding, high winds, and heavy rain. This could be the most significant hurricane impact on Grand Cayman since Hurricane Paloma in November 2008.

– Yucatan Peninsula: By Friday, Beryl is expected to make landfall as a hurricane on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, affecting areas from the Belize border to Cozumel with storm surge flooding, damaging winds, and heavy rain.

Warnings and Watches:

– Hurricane Warning: Issued for Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.
– Hurricane Watch: Issued for the eastern coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, including Costa Maya, Tulum, Cozumel, and Cancún.
– Tropical Storm Watch: Issued as far south as Belize City, Belize.

Areas under hurricane warnings are urged to complete preparations immediately. Those under hurricane watches should ensure their plans are ready to implement.

Hurricane Beryl became the earliest Atlantic Category 5 storm on record after impacting the Windward Islands on Monday. Beryl will continue its west-northwest trajectory through the Caribbean Sea this week. Although it will likely lose some intensity due to increasing wind shear, it remains a significant threat. The storm’s future in the Gulf of Mexico is uncertain, with potential impacts on eastern Mexico and Texas early next week.

Belize City to Corozal District Under Tropical Storm Watch

Hurricane Beryl is now a category four hurricane as it barrels its way towards Jamaica where it is expected to make landfall into tomorrow. Earlier this morning, forecast models indicated a slight shift north in the storm’s projected path. Not much has changed with those projections throughout the course of today. As of six p.m., a tropical storm watch will be declared for Belize City all the way to Corozal. There is still a great deal of uncertainty as to where exactly Hurricane Beryl will make landfall, but it is expected to weaken and is already seeing decreased wind speeds. Hurricane Beryl will likely make landfall in the Yucatan Peninsula or Northern Belize as a category one hurricane. Chief Meteorologist Ronald Gordon gave us the latest this afternoon.

Ronald Gordon, Chief Meteorologist, NMS

“The Hurricane continues to move rapidly west, north westward at twenty-two miles per hour and maximum sustained winds have decreased slightly. It is now a category four hurricane, a strong category four hurricane with maximum sustained winds of a hundred and fifty-five miles for hour. The latest satellite imagery I saw from Beryl is that the eye has become a bit more rapid, indicating that the system has been weaking due to the vertical wind shear and that is starting to affect the system. It would seem that the northern part of the country if it follows the most probable path will be the one on the fringes of tropical storm force winds. If it follows the worst case scenario and moves further south then of course hurricane force winds will affect that part of the country. The forecasted weakening indicates that at land fall it will be a category one hurricane. That is anywhere between seventy-four and ninety-five miles per hour, in terms of wind speeds and along with that we expect heavy rainfall near the center along with bands extending further out and of course storm surge to the north of the country which we don’t expect to impact the country of Belize.”

Daniel Mendez, National Emergency Coordinator, NEMO

“We have been watching the system closely alongside the met service. WE have continued our preparations across the country. All the national committees met this morning to formulate a plane that we will implement across the country in case it is needed. At this time we remain on standby. All of our district committees remain on alter and will be prepared to mobilize in the next few days as we watch the development of Hurricane Beryl heading our way.”

NEMO Urge Belizean in the East and North to Continue Preparations

National Emergency Coordinator, Daniel Mendez is urging the nation to continue its preparations. He noted that even if this system does not cause any severe impact to Belize, we are still at the start of the hurricane season, so those plans will not go to waste.

Daniel Mendez, National Emergency Coordinator, NEMO

“In the meantime we continue to encourage the population to continue their preparations. It will not go to waste for sure. We also ask as you continue your preparations to reach out to those members of our community who are elderly, those with special needs and have some sort of disability, just check in to make sure their preparations are going well. Let us not forget them as we continue to work on this. NEMO will remain on standby throughout this period. The national Emergency Operation Center is in full operation and we will be monitoring this system for the next few days. We are on twenty-four seven watch along will all the coordinators across the country and we remain prepared to respond for anything. Our hotline is open, nine, three, six if you have anything to report or concern to share with us. We remain vigilant and we are prepared to respond as the storm gets closer.”