San Ignacio Police Formation Gets Two New Vehicles  

Today, the San Ignacio Police Station received two new pickup trucks and a motorbike as a donation from the Belize Tourism Board. This donation brings much needed resources for crime fighting to the twin towns, following a recent spike in crime within the area. Several businesses have been targeted and there have even been a couple murders over the past few months. This morning, a handing over ceremony was held outside of the precinct. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

The San Ignacio Police Station received two new pickup trucks and a motorbike today. One of the vehicles, as well as the motorbike was donated by the Belize Tourism Board.

 

Nicole Solano, Chief Executive Officer, Belize Tourism Board

“This is not the first time we have been together, our ministry, the Belize Tourism Board and our ministry working along with the security forces in Belize. I want to say on his behalf that we look forward to an ongoing partnership. We recognize in tourism the importance of safety and security and of course San Ignacio and Cayo in general is one of the main tourist destinations. We have to maintain safety and security for not only our citizens but for our guests as well.”

 

The second pickup truck was donated by the Government of Belize. Though two trucks were present at today’s handing over ceremony, B.T.B. is donating one to officers in Ladyville. Out west, Assistant Superintendent of Police Cesar Franco and his team have been working tirelessly to suppress a recent spike in violence within the twin towns.

 

 

 

A.S.P. Cesar Franco, O.C., San Ignacio Police Formation

“These vehicles come at a very opportune time to assist in addressing the crime and violence within San Ignacio and Santa Elena. We here at the San Ignacio formation continue to strive to offer our best service to the community that we ought to do.”

 

 

 

 

Three elected representatives were seated at the head table, flanked by Commissioner of Police Chester Williams and Deputy Commissioner of Police Doctor Richard Rosado. It’s a show of support for the ongoing efforts to root out the source of violence that has been plaguing San Ignacio and Santa Elena of recent.

 

 

 

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“I know that when crime rears its ugly head there is a lot of people that have a lot to say, people who from their own words have solutions to the problem but never have actions that can match the solutions they spue. But I can proudly say with certainty that the Belize Tourism Board under the leadership of Minister Anthony Mahler has been one of the Belize Police Department’s greatest supporter when it comes to providing resources for the police to be able to do our work.”

 

 

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs

“This truly is what it meant o have a united effort, a united front against a very serious crime situation that has been plaguing our nation. The criminals are getting more brazen, a lot younger, from thirteen years old , and that is why it is extremely important we tackle crime from all front, not just a policing front, but from a social development front, human development. We have partnerships with Minister Dolores, Minister Ferguson when to comes to sports, the Minister of Education. At the end of the day education is the greatest equalizer.”

 

Aside from the two new mobiles, the San Ignacio Police Station will receive an additional twenty-seven police officers who are also being deployed out west. ComPol Williams and his team have consulted with residents in the twin towns.

 

 

 

 

Chester Williams

“We have had several meetings in the area and I attended some of those meetings. I also had Assistant Commissioner of Police Gillett attend some of those meetings. Those meetings were to discuss with the people of the twin towns to see what we can do to assist with making the area safer. Again it goes as a part of our strategic policing plan where we consult with people to see how we can find solutions to the crime problem. From those meetings I went back to our minister to see what we can do to allay some of the concerns of the people. Through that we got the donations of some of those vehicles. The San Ignacio Formation will get two no vehicles and one will go to the Ladyville Sub-Formation. We also expect that within the next couple of weeks, by the first of August we will have the opening of the new Santa Elena Police Station to make sure we can decentralize our policing effort in this area. I have already transferred, effective first of August, twenty-seven new police officers who will be assigned to the Santa Elena Police Station. That is going to give additional human resources to the area.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.