Police Activity Expected at 19th Celebrations

Garifuna Settlement Day is just around the corner, and the celebrations are already in full swing. As Belizeans come together to honor the historic arrival of the Garifuna people, the police will be on duty to keep things peaceful and orderly. Today, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams encouraged everyone to enjoy the festivities but reminded the public to do so respectfully, without infringing on others’ rights.

 

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“We are actively involved in the policing of the nineteenth time celebration activities in Belize City, in Belmopan and down south. I think those are the areas where we are seeing activities. Our specialized units will be deployed to these activities to assist the local police in ensuring the safety of people. I just want to encourage your call upon our citizens who are going to these events to celebrate the 19th, so please do so in such a way that you don’t expose yourself to harm. And if you’re going to enjoy yourself, do so in such a way that you don’t infringe on the rights of people. If you’re going to drive, don’t drink. If you’re going to drink, don’t drive at the end of the day, we want everyone to celebrate. And when the celebrations are over, we want everyone to go home to the family safe. That’s the important thing. And so making sure that we are civil in how we celebrate is important. And so I just want to ask everybody who are going to be a part of this nineteenth celebration to always consider the other person that is around and try not to do anything to hurt or to harm anybody. And once that is done, then I think we should be able to come back on Wednesday to say that, you know, we had a good nineteenth celebration.”