PM Responds to Post-election Results Incident in Belmopan

In the midst of the election results euphoria in Belmopan, there was a very serious incident. One of John Saldivar’s supporters allegedly discharged a firearm into the air. He was immediately detained by Police, since discharging a firearm in such a crowded venue is not only extremely foolish and dangerous but also illegal. Another of Saldivar’s supporters told him what had happened and Saldivar approached Police and shouted at them to, “Back off…back off now.” Saldivar and supporters then pulled the detained man away from Police and carried him away. The incident was actually caught in its entirely on video, so you don’t have to take our word for it. We’ll show you that video, and also the response of Prime Minister Barrow when asked about it this morning.

Dean Barrow

Prime Minister Dean Barrow

“I don’t know that he did any such thing. It is clear from what I saw that he did speak to the Police, but to go from there to an assertion that he directed them not to arrest the gentleman is a bit of a stretch. I was satisfied with the explanation that he gave me…that this was while clearly something that was wrong and in fact illegal…for this person to fire a shot or shots in the air in celebration – that if he had not intervened, because he did – I just do not concede that he directed the Police – if he had not in fact asked the Police – look man can you…if you’re going to arrest the man can you do it tomorrow…you will provoke an incident out here. I am satisfied that that was fine. The Police had no…thereafter it remained a decision of the Police. He was not Minister of National Security then, you know. He was nothing, except somebody – a newly re-elected and not sworn in. So you can’t tell me that he gave an order that was an abuse of any authority because he had no authority. It’s a matter for the Police to have decided whether any request that he made was to be acceded to and it is clear that they did. It is still open to the Police to charge that individual. In fact, it is an offence for which in the normal course somebody I think would be summoned and if arrested given immediate bail. In all the circumstances the incident is regrettable but not anything that would have caused me to think twice about reappointing John Saldivar to that ministry.”

News Five was able to confirm that the man in the video who discharged his firearm has not been subsequently arrested or even questioned by Belmopan Police.