State of Emergency Declared in Belize, Cayo Districts 

Police Commissioner Chester Williams was in the Saint Martin’s area of southside Belize City where he announced that a State of Emergency has been declared in specific sections of the country.

“This morning the police department launched a state of emergency southside Belize City as well as over in northside, Victoria Street, including that entire Jungle Area. We also have an S.O.E. in the entire Cotton Tree and Roaring Creek villages in the Cayo District.”Police officers accompanied by Belize Defence Force soldiers were out in full force in the S.O.E. areas. “We are pursuing those persons who we want to be detained as a part of the S.O. E.”, Williams shared.

According to Williams, operations under the S.O.E. have yielded results. “We have been able to detain a number of persons who were wanted for murders. As you’ll see on our media blog, we had shared with you yesterday, the arrest of two individuals. One was arrested for the murder of Elwin Lewis, which took place a couple of months ago. That person had been on the run for a number of months from us and we were able to locate him yesterday. And we also charge I think Marquis Conorquie for the murder of Moore who was killed on  Sunday during the day.”

Other persons have also been detained and will be investigated for other crimes. Police officers also managed to recover firearms and ammunition in both the Belize and Cayo districts.

“I must say that since we started our operations in the San Ignacio, Santa Elena area, the team there have seized at least about four firearms and a number of ammunitions, so it goes to show the work that the police has been doing in those areas to be able to crack down on the issue of crime.”

Williams told reporters that the purpose of the S.O.E. is to increase public safety and citizen security.