100 Gifts for 100 Kids, Courtesy the Police

The spirit of spreading Christmas cheer was in the air today as the Belize Police Department filed right in line with Lakers today in giving to the kids. This afternoon, the Swift Hall in Belize City was the venue of treats, snacks and gifts. Assistant Commissioner, Howell Gillett said that the effort is duplicated in each municipality, but that today in Belize City alone, a hundred kids received gifts. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.

 

Marion Ali, Reporting

A hundred more Belize City children were at another event receiving treats and gifts today. The Belize Police Department spearheaded the event, with sponsorship from the British High Commission and the Taiwanese Embassy. A.C.P., Howell Gillett heads the National Community Policing Unit. He says that in order to pull off today’s event, community policing officers had to venture out into the community and select the children that were in attendance.

 

A.C.P Howell Gillett, Commander, National Community Policing Unit

“Many of them would not have gotten a gift otherwise. So, it’s so important for us to show them from a very early age that law enforcement is not only about making an arrest.  We want to show them there’s no need to fear the police. The police are your friends. The more young people we work with at this early stage, that will transcend into less criminals in the future, less gang members.”

 

Taiwanese Ambassador to Belize, Lily Li-Wen Hsu and Acting British High Commissioner to Belize, Christine Rowlands had common perspectives on the importance of being a part of these kinds of social events.

 

Lily Li-Wen Hsu, Taiwanese Ambassador to Belize

“We just play our very small part, provide some financial support to the Belize Police Department for them to continue this annual event – very meaningful one.”

 

Christine Rowlands, Acting British High Commissioner to Belize

“We think it’s really important to support the youth of Belize and to give a little back to the community over the festive season. So we’re very proud to be part of it. We donated some money to purchase gifts. We didn’t actually go and do the shopping ourselves. We were a tiny, tiny little team. So, the Assistant Police Commissioner kindly did that on our behalf.”

 

A.C.P Gillett says that gifts will be distributed by the police in all six municipalities. Marion Ali for News Five.