P.M. Barrow Comments on Gang Suppression Unit

Dean Barrow

Following today’s sitting of the House of Representatives, Prime Minister Barrow was asked about the exchange between former Prime Minister Said Musa and GSU head Mark Flowers. The exchange has gone viral. Barrow, like others we’ve asked, refused to touch it, claiming that both Musa and Flowers have said more than enough. Interestingly, he claims that Musa was out of line while Flowers wasn’t. Still, there’s the matter of the most recent allegation of excessive use of force against the GSU. The Prime Minister did comment on that, stating that if it is indeed true, something will need to be done about it.

Prime Minister Dean Barrow

“I know that allegations have been made. I don’t know if they are accurate. If they are, then something will have to be done about that. I think Jules already made the point that government has paid money—not just once, at least two occasions I believe—when in connection with excessive. So even from the point of view of costing the government, of costing the taxpayers, we can’t tolerate excesses. I would like to feel that there is a stronger, internal mechanism to deal with excesses when they occur. I would like for us to have an ideal situation where excesses don’t occur, but that this is not a perfect world. I do not want in any sense to be interpreted as saying that I condone excesses or that excesses are a necessary feature of the GSU. I don’t say that. But we can’t let the perfect become the enemy of the good beucase the GSU is not perfect. But also given that the GSU in my view is good, are we going to say disband it and coming back to what I just said allowing the perfect to defeat the good. No, no, no. Let’s work on trying to curb the excesses, but there can be no question in my mind, but that the GSU has performed overall very, very well; has been extremely effective. I think Flowers is off to a hell of a start and so I want to see him continue for a while, for a long while, and I want to see the GSU continue to be an effective crime fighting unit, especially with respect to gangs, of the Belize Police Department.”

Minister of Police John Saldivar added his two cents to the discussion in the House, accusing former Prime Minister Said Musa of practically begging and encouraging the criminal elements to disrespect the Police Department.