Restoring Belize will take time
doug singh
In May and June the Prime Minister, Dean Barrow introduced plans to take back the streets from criminals with a programme called Operation Restore Belize. The objective was to chart a way forward after consultation with various sub-committees, whose jobs will be to monitor and assist in implementing new initiatives in deterring crime. It’s is a slow process, says newly appointed Minister of Police, Doug Singh, but is designed to take on a holistic approach that will have long-term effects.
Doug Singh, Minister of Police
“The work is pretty well underway but don’t expect to see any immediate results as a result of Restore Belize. Restore Belize is an approach that is multi-pronged. It really seeks to deal with some of the root causes. Restore Belize is not talking about going out and policing he city immediately to deal with criminal activities. It’s talking about putting in systematic approaches in place, putting the enabling legislation that will perhaps improve the conviction rate, putting together the restructuring of the Police Department that will build community policing, build the different structures that are necessary to have effective policing.”
While the programme will not have any overnight results to reduce crime, the Department has also just been taken in a new recruit that will be mostly dispatched to Belize City to help in fighting the crime wave.
Restoring Belize will take time.But I hope the New Minister of Police do his homework ,First of all the Police Force need communication equipment. I saw the Police and the B.D.F. patrolling in the city. to me it is a wast of time.They have no plan in place how to patrol The criminal are the one watching the Police and they have the communication tools like cell phone.where they can text or call , location of the Police N B.D.F ,They also need Vehicle to be mobile.It hurt me as an Ex Police Special Force Member to see what the force is at .Also Mr.Minister Try and bring Back a Body like the Police Special Force.
We have community policing, it’s not working. How about speedy trials? Can we try setting up independent panels made up of a cross section of the community to deal with complaints against the police & after they determine that an officer needs to be fired, reprimanded or prosecuted, if that is not followed through hold his bosses or the anointed ones who are protecting them financially & criminally liable. A little transparency will shed some light, a lot of transparency will wake our ….. up & knock some sense back into us. Why are our Policemen picking up evidence with their bare hands?
Although the plan to restore Belize will have to take a long time before any results is visible, sadly, innocent people lives are being sacrificed until then.
what is the short term solution,
try to stay alive some more?
STATING THE OBVIOUS…….It did not get that way over night. But what’s the master plan???
How can Belize be restored with a 7% conviction rate for murderers?