Doris Grant will have her day in court to answer to the multitude of charges that have been brought against her. She is accused of defrauding a Mennonite businessperson in land transactions that weren’t worth the paper they were printed on. And today, the Minister of Home Affairs says the file sits on the D.P.P’s desk and that contrary to what has been reported in other media circles, the prime minister is not part of that investigation team. Grant’s Reggae Street home and her farmhouse in Gardenia Village have both been searched by investigators led by D.C.P. Doctor Richard Rosado but have turned up nothing incriminating. This week, Grant informed News Five that police took a chest with her diabetes medication and took pictures of documents she has for her car and receipts for building supplies and returned them to her. Today, Musa told reporters that witnesses from the Mennonite community have given police statements as part of the investigation.
Kareem Musa
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“I have been informed that there was an investigation being carried out into an alleged land fraud, as you rightly mentioned. I think it is over the course of the last month or so that an investigation has been carried out. I am told that several witnesses from the Mennonite community have provided statements. And so that entire file, I am told, has been turned over to the D.P.P.’s office.
Reporter
“Any reasoning why I believe Ms. Grant’s home has been searched twice and for the second time it was searched for five hours?”
Kareem Musa
“I am not certain. That is a matter for the investigative team as that investigation is still ongoing. And so looking for evidence, I’m sure is one of the reasons behind searches of that nature. And so I would think that is the reason why, you know, if at all, the prime minister is involved at any level in this investigation. Absolutely not. No, that is being carried out by the Belize Police Department. Not by the prime minister as I believe someone was trying to suggest that is not the case.”
Commissioner of Police Chester Williams has also chimed in on the Doris Grant matter. This afternoon, he told reporters that the police department and the Ministry of Natural Resources need to work closely in investigating and arresting perpetrators of land fraud.
Reporter
“Sir, in relation to Doris Grant and the land fraud, this is the third, I would say, big land case that we are seeing in recent times. We had Ricardo Borja who was killed, we had Dalla Coin who was killed. They were both in land dealings, and now we have Doris Grant in this land fraud. Is land fraud now something that police are keeping a closer eye on?”
Chester Williams
“Well certainly, we have to look at it more meticulously and there needs to be proper coordination with the Ministry of Natural Resources. I don’t understand how people could falsify documents. Maybe there needs to be something done to make sure that the documents used at the land registry are not easily forged. And again, people who are purchasing land need to make sure that they do their respective due diligence. You can’t just go and buy land from anybody. You can have an agent go to the land registry and do research for you on any piece of land that you may have interest in and they should be able to tell you if that land is available or taken. And likewise, I think that within the Ministry of Natural Resources, I don’t think they have agents that would normally go out and do certain things. So if a person out in the street would tell you that they are an agent of natural resources or they are an agent of this or that, then you need to make sure you do your proper due diligence before you give them your money because at the end of the day then this becomes the issue. So it’s a huge problem for us indeed, but the issue is that many a times it does not come to the police. We only hear of it out there in the greater public and only a few of them would normally come to the police.”
Prime Minister John Briceño says he is aware of an ongoing police investigation into Doris Grant. On Thursday, P.M. Briceño told reporters that Grant allegedly promised to sell a group of Mennonites some land and received a significant sum of money from them. But, according to the allegation, she never delivered on her end of the bargain. P.M. Briceño did not go into the details because the matter is expected to be forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I don’t know much about it. I am told there has been an investigation and it would be going on to the DPP but the little I have heard is that she allegedly sold dreams to these Mennonites for land. They thought that she was legit and now we are finding out that monies have been exchanged but no land, they have not received any land. But that again, we cant comment on it because that will be going to the DPP and certainly to court.”
Thirty-six-year-old Solomon Coleman, a resident of Punta Gorda Town, was shot and killed in Belmopan earlier this week when he was accosted by an unknown gunman. The murder took place as Coleman and his brother were walking along Cemetery Road. Despite reviewing surveillance footage, investigators are no closer to making an arrest since the culprit wore a mask. Here’s more from Commissioner of Police Chester Williams.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“In Belmopan, that murder is a very complicated one. We are still trying to ascertain exactly what happened. What we know is that the group of persons, family, were drinking in a particular area and they may have left to go and purchase additional alcohol and on the way to do so, they were approached by a vehicle. A lone gunman came out of the vehicle with a shotgun, he and the deceased had a struggle and during the struggle the gun went off and the deceased was shot fatally. We have viewed several surveillance footages in the area and we are still not able to get a good lead because the gunman had on a mask. So at this time we don’t know who the gunman is, but we are still working on it to see what we can get.”
Ellis Meighan is wanted in Belize in connection with a murder that took place on the Placencia peninsula several weeks ago. Last week, it was reported that Meighan turned up in the United States and, according to ComPol Chester Williams, the murder suspect is seeking asylum in the U.S. Meighan is wanted for question in relation to the shooting death of Roy Lee Burgess back in April.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commisioner of Police
“I think the issue with Ellis Meighan currently is that he is claiming asylum so I think the U.S. will go through that asylum process to see if he would meet the asylum to be granted asylum and if he does not meet the requirement then he will be sent back home. Bear in mind that we have already issued an arrest warrant for him, likewise, his wanted poster is out there. So the U.S. authorities should know that he is wanted in Belize and Interpol Belize is in communication with Interpol in the U.S. to make sure that there is proper coordination.”
Reporter
“How were you able to locate him?”
Chester Williams
“It was not us who located him. As you said, he was found entering the U.S., by the U.S. border patrol agent and so he is in their custody right now, awaiting the process.”
Accused murderer Elmer Nah remains incarcerated at the Belize Central Prison. The former police officer is on remand for the triple murder of brothers Jon and David Ramnarace, and Vivian Ramnarace. Nah maintains his innocence and recently suggested that the heinous killings were carried out by another rogue cop. When we asked the ComPol about an investigation into those allegations, he said that they are in process of putting together an ironclad case against Nah.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“Yes, it has been concluded and the result is that there was no basis for his report. The surveillance camera in the vehicle that transported him to and from prison, including the body cam worn by officers.”
Reporter
“He said it was a next police officer who committed the murders.”
Chester Williams
“I am not going to go into too much details where that is concerned because that is a matter before the court and you and I know that an accused person would always raise whatever they need to raise for a defense. We are doing what we can to be able to convince the court beyond a reasonable doubt that Elmer Nah is the perpetrator of that triple murder. So that’s what we are doing right now.”
On Monday, we reported on the two shooting incidents that occurred in Corozal district over the weekend, one of which, was fatal. The first shooting occurred on Saturday night when a man was targeted in his yard and gunned down. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams says the recent act of violence was the result of rivalling groups in the area. The fatal shooting occurred around one thirty a.m. at the Mi Compa Bar in Ranchito Village and is believed to have been spurred by a dispute between two parties. We asked Williams for an update, and he informed us that police have identified the suspects and are seeking them for an arrest.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“The Corozal murder is rather unfortunate. I must say that, again, it is important that the liquor licensing board listen to the police. We had made several attempts to have that bar closed down. It was closed down temporarily for a little while. And the reason we had made those requests was because we foresaw this happening. But again, they were able to get licensed and continue to operate and now this happened. Nonetheless, the police are on top of it. We know who the suspect is and we’re still pursuing that person at this time. We’re hoping to find that person very soon and then we’ll be able to lay charges against that individual. But again, it was a group of persons who had some misunderstanding and that misunderstanding led to the fatal shooting of the victim.”
Britney Gordon
“And there was a shooting not too far away in Parisa Village. Do you know anything about that?”
Chester Williams
“Yes. That shooting, likewise, we know who the person who the person who did that, and we’re looking for that person as well. We believe that may have something to do with our rivaling issue between two, two particular groups in the area.”
Last weekend, the police made a huge bust of crystal meth, perhaps the largest that they’ve made so far. They have arrested three persons for their find and today Commissioner of Police Chester Williams told reporters that they intercepted the drugs in a vehicle at a mechanic shop in the Cayo District. Williams said that their operations along the border areas have yielded good results, and this was one such occasion when their search turned up a significant find.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“It is a huge bus for us. We have been doing a lot of operations along the border areas in the districts that borders different country, that borders Guatemala and then Orange Walk and Corozal that borders Mexico. And these operations we do regularly yield good results for us. I am extremely proud and happy of the work done by the Anti-Narcotics Unit in that operation. It’s a huge – I think it’s the largest bust we have had of Crystal Meth. And it needs to be celebrated, and indeed maybe, we need to toot our horns some more. I think that we don’t toot our horn as much as we should. They were found at a, I think a garage area, a mechanic shop in a vehicle. The team did their investigation and the investigation done by them was what led to the arrest of those persons who were charged.”
Last weekend there was also a shooting on Newtown Barracks involving a police officer who fired rubber pellets that injured several persons. The officer was responding to an altercation at a popular nightclub on the entertainment strip. To break up the fight that was taking place, the policeman fired a warning shot onto the ground and when the rubber pellets ricocheted, they injured several persons who were in the immediate vicinity. ComPol Chester Williams explained the use of non-lethal rounds.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“As I said to OCED, while I do understand that the police’s action in discharging the weapon or the firearm in that particular area could be seen as one that was necessary but not necessary, let me put it that way. You might say well how could it be necessary but still not necessary, but again, due to what was taking place in terms of the aggression, the fighting between the different groups, and we do know that when we have rival groups going at each other, the potential for either one to take out weapons and use is very high. So the police took out his shotgun that had rubber bullets and discharged a warning shot. My issue with it is that he fired the warning shot in the ground. You don’t fire warning shots in the ground because the potential of ricocheting is extremely high. He could have fired it in the air or whatever, but I can’t kill the policeman because at the end of the day he saw an issue that could have escalated to the stage where persons got severely injured or killed and he, being the person in that position, applies his best judgment and did what he did, a reprimand from me would be good enough for him, but I don’t want to kill him for what he did, no.”
Security measures are tightening up in River Valley. In recent months, the community observed an increase in crime in the area, raising serious concern among residents. After voicing complaints about the ineffectiveness of the police officers stationed there, ten new officers were transferred into the area, replacing the previous staff, and a new officer in charge was appointed. Today, the force continues to strengthen this commitment to safety by welcoming a new police mobile to be used in the area. News Fives’ Britney Gordon attended the handing-over ceremony for more details on the security strategies to be implemented in River Valley. Here’s that report.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
The Belize River Valley just got a little safer with the addition of a brand-new police mobile. This vehicle is part of a greater initiative to strengthen security measures in the area. Today, the police force held a handing-over ceremony to commemorate the new vehicle and commend the efforts made to ensure public safety. Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs detailed this endeavor to us.
Kareem Musa
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“A few years ago, we had undertaken a very comprehensive countrywide review and tour. Of the rural communities meeting with the leaders all across the country to identify the key areas in which we can assist these rural communities whether it’s by community policing, whether it’s by assigning special constables, additional special constables. And one of the number one concerns was mobility. And so that is part of the reason why we are here today to deliver. This brand new pickup truck for the Belize River Valley. As you mentioned, there was some flare ups about two, two months or so ago. And so we definitely wanted to prioritize and focus our efforts here in the River Valley, not just by providing mobility for the police officers, but providing additional officers.”
The implementation of better safety precautions is a community effort that involves strategizing with several community leaders and government officials. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams acknowledges a decrease in violent
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“We know that the year started off rough for them. I think we had about ten murders in the first three months, which was extremely high. And I came in, I sat down with them, we developed strategies, we had mediations, we have interventions the community leaders were also brought together to give their ideas so we can get an appreciation in terms of what was taking place and see how best we could address the issue. And again, that yielded good results for us. We have since seen a tremendous decrease in major crime in the area since we had those meetings. And we’re hoping that with the additional resources in the area, both human and vehicular resources, that we’ll be able to get more from the police in this area. I want to assure the Belize River Valley people that the Belize Police Department stands committed in making sure that their safety and security always remain at the forefront.”
Musa explains that the Ministry of Home Affairs has been donating new vehicles to the Crimes Investigation Branch across the country.
Kareem Musa
“We have from our ministry identified funds. Recently we also handed over six brand new vehicles to CIB all across the country because It’s absolutely vital and essential that our investigators, whenever a serious crime is taking place, that they have mobility and so we were able to deliver six new vehicles to C.I.B. as well.”
The police mobile and new officers are part of a concerted effort towards better public safety. Williams explained that through the diligent efforts of the police force and continued cooperation from the public, residents will begin to witness a positive change in the community.
Chester Williams
“We have newly leadership in the area as well. Additional police officers were also pumped into the area. I think we went from somewhere around eleven police officers in this area to currently about twenty-nine. So the numbers increased tremendously. But our Boom station now is twenty-four hours operating in Bermuda Landing. It’s I think two shift system. We have there until twelve midnight. So we’re seeing more and more that we’re doing what we can to enhance security. Again, it does not require only the police. We have to have the partnership with the people and that’s the importance why the importance of making sure that the chairpersons of the respected villages are a part of what we do. We get good cooperation from them, good input from them. I want to make sure we enhance that.”
