Uncertainty Grows within Police Department Over Unpaid Duties Performed

When we spoke to the Commissioner of Police we also asked him about pending payments to police officers.  These officers, who worked extra duty in September, have not been paid.  We know that the junior officers were paid for “extraneous” duties performed for the Christmas anti-crime operations last year. Senior officers, however, have not been paid and have been told that they cannot get time off in lieu of work because of the current situation. Officers are also wondering if they are going to be paid for extra duties performed in September and so we asked Commissioner Chester Williams about it.

Hipolito Novelo

“Officers within the Belize Police Department we are told are under uncertainty of the status if they will be paid for duties for the months of September. We are told that similarly senior officers are yet to be paid for extraneous duties performed for d Christmas Anti-Crime period for December 2019. Only junior officers were paid in March and senior officers are now left without financial compensation or time off in lieu of work.”

Chester Williams

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“Can you please ask them to address those concerns to the commissioner’s office for me please? Thank you.”

Hipolito Novelo

“Is that confirmed that there…”

Chester Williams

“I said ask them to address it to the commissioner’s office because it seems to me that you are the commissioner Hipolito because I don’t know about it. Let them bring the complaint to me.”

Hipolito Novelo

“But police officers are uncertain that they will be paid for their duties….”

Chester Williams

“Let them bring their issue to me. I am the commissioner. I don’t know why they go to you.  They should come to me. I am going to answer them.”

Hipolito Novelo

“Okay I guess they will be paid. The issue is that several officers are uncertain that they will be paid for September.”

Chester Williams

“Then if they are uncertain Hipolito then the right person for them to have asked was the commissioner, not you. Unless you are going to instruct me.”

Hipolito Novelo

“I ask on behalf of the wider population of police officers.”

Chester Williams

“They know how to address their concerns, Hipolito.”