Former Police Officer Santiago Ciau Jr. Dies
Former police officer Santiago “Santi” Ciau Jr. has died at the young age of 37. Ciau died yesterday after a long battle with a debilitating bone illness. Ciau joined the Belize Police Department on July 23rd, 2006.
In March 2023, the government retired Ciau due to medical unfitness from a 2009 workplace injury. He was diagnosed with avascular necrosis, and encountered repeated denials for invalidity benefits from the Social Security Board (SSB).
Despite appealing the decision, he received late notification, preventing a timely second appeal. “For seven months, I had no income,” he said in an interview back in December 2023.
Ciau’s situation formed part of an even broader issue concerning access to invalidity benefits in Belize. His case led advocates, including NTUCB President Luke Martinez, to call for urgent reforms to occupational safety and health legislation.
Facebook Comments