Last week, we reported that the contract between the Kolbe Foundation, which has been managing the Belize Central Prison since 2002, and the government of Belize had not been renewed. This left many wondering about the future management of the prison. However, Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa cleared things up today, announcing that a meeting was held to renew the contract and address the concerns of both parties. Here’s more on that.
Kareem Musa
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“Whenever there is the ending of the contract we do have a discussion with Kolbe Foundation on the way forward. We’re actually having that meeting right now as we speak. My CEO is there. Meeting with them and I’m heading over there to see and both sides have concerns in terms of the management. And so we are, we’re going to see if we can renew that contract.”
For the past two years, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams has praised the Belize Police Department for their efforts in keeping the country’s murder rate below one hundred victims. In 2024, Belize recorded eighty-nine murder victims, just two more than the previous year. When asked about these numbers, Commissioner Williams was questioned if he was ignoring directives from the Director of Public Prosecution to charge some of the alleged perpetrators with murder to keep the official count lower. Here’s his response.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“Every instruction given to the police, by Her Majesty’s Director of Public Prosecution is adhered to under my command. I do not encourage my officers not to adhere to directives from the DPP. So I don’t know where you’re getting your stats from, but so there’s no such directive again. What you’re doing or what you’re trying to digest is not working of your stomach. Spit it out.”
Over the years, states of emergency (S.O.E.s) have played a role in lowering the murder rate, but they also strip away the rights of citizens who fall under suspicious profiles or are suspected gang members. These individuals can be detained by the state for as long as necessary to maintain or restore peace. However, today, Minister of Police Kareem Musa shared his hope with the media that there won’t be a need for an S.O.E. in 2025.
Kareem Musa
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“The latter part specifically of 2024, demonstrates to us that peace is possible within the streets of really city and other parts of the country where we have gang related crimes. I am hopeful that we will not be needing an SOE because I think a lot of these young men. are many of them are members of the LIU program can see that the government is going above and beyond to provide alternatives for them, whether it is skills training, whether it is, um, sporting activities, whether it is a job, these are all things aimed at offering alternatives to gang-related offenses.”
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“Like Minister have said to you, as a department, we employ every tool possible to secure the peace of our people. SOE is not something that we use willingly. It is something that we use sparingly and in exceptional circumstances. If the need should present itself that we need an SOE, certainly, I’ll be the first to recommend the minister to do it because at the end of the day We must do what is right to secure our people including to secure those same young men who have issues with each other. I can tell you that even sometimes their own family members are asking for it because they believe that if it is not believe they’re going to lose their loved ones. So if the need presents itself, yes, but if there’s not a need to do it, then we would happily move on without any SOE.”
Last week, we reported on the dramatic feud between cousins Shania and police officer Lunnet Dominguez, both charged with harm after a violent altercation in Biscayne Village. Twenty-five-year-old Shania claims that her thirty-three-year-old cousin Lunnet and her eighteen-year-old nephew broke down her door, ransacked her home, and injured her. On the other hand, the other parties allege that Shania threw hot water on the nephew. After all three were charged with harm, Shania spoke out, alleging that Paul Ferguson, the driver for the Minister of Home Affairs, was at the scene supporting Lunnet. She further claims that Ferguson threatened to use his connections in the Police Department to sway the case in Lunnet’s favor. However, Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa denies any influence from Ferguson in police matters.
Kareem Musa
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“ First of all, you have to understand when you say Paul Ferguson was involved in a domestic situation, he was not involved in anything. He was at the scene with a friend who was involved, who was allegedly involved. So let’s get the facts correct. You have to look at the facts of that case. It is a long-standing rift between family members which resulted in one side admitting to throwing water. She admitted to throwing water albeit, she is saying it wasn’t hot. And then the other side reacting. Paul Ferguson being there, I believe, was to support his friend. But he did nothing else in terms of intervention because I feel that the media and this individual who is aggrieved felt that they wanted to say that is the reason the person was charged but the ComPol can tell you, We insisted that officer be charged and was charged with harm, even though it could quite possibly have been a case of defense of others, If someone throws hot water on your family member and you react, that is, that could be defense of others, which is a full legal defense. But in this particular case, it was important that the officer also be charged so that matter can be properly ventilated before the court. Paul Ferguson has access to the motor vehicle. He is my driver. So I don’t see what that issue is.”
Reporter
“But should he have exercise discretion in the use of the ministerial vehicle when he knows that you’re entering as an outsider into a thorny situation?”
Kareem Musa
“So how is he supposed to get from point A to point B is what I’m saying?”
Reporter
“His ride, that is not. The state is paying for that, sir.”
Kareem Musa
“I agree. But I work on weekends as well. so he has that vehicle to pick me up, to take me to,”
Reporter
“That’s not his personal vehicle, sir.”
Kareem Musa
“It’s not his personal vehicle. I agree. I agree with you.”
The sugar roads in northern Belize are in rough shape, making it really difficult for cane farmers to transport their harvest to the mill. Even though the new sugar crop season started on December twenty-seventh, deliveries have been slow, which is impacting sugar production at Tower Hill. On Tuesday, industry stakeholders like the Corozal Sugar Cane Producers Association and A.S.R./B.S.I. shared their thoughts on the issue and its impact on the sector. This morning, Prime Minister John Briceño added his voice to the discussion, speaking on behalf of the Government of Belize.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Well, the sugar roads, look at the weather. We have set aside the money, we have signed contracts, but I constantly tell our farmers that we will be wasting money if we try to fix the road right now because then, one day or two days later, it’s going to break up. So, we have the money, we’ve signed the contracts. We’ve set aside even another million dollars plus to be able to fix the sugar roads. But, until the rain clears up, there’s not much that we can do.”
President-elect Donald Trump has issued a stark warning, threatening to deport large numbers of Mexican and Latin American immigrants from the United States once he takes office later this month. Many countries are on edge, including Honduras, where President Xiomara Castro has suggested ending US military cooperation. But what about Belize? Will the Briceño administration bow to US pressure and accept deportees, many of whom are considered violent criminals? Here’s Prime Minister Briceño’s response to that question.
Reporter
“Will Belize accept being a third country for the US to deport Venezuelans, Haitians and Nicaraguans. There are many indications that Guatemala may agree to this.”
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“No. We will not accept it.”
Marion Ali
“Sir, I wanted you to expound on a question my colleague asked regarding the refugee migration to Belize. If the US puts these pressures on us, how are we going to manage those pressures?”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“We are a sovereign nation and they cannot force us to accept people that are not citizens of this country. And, as far as I am concerned, we are not going to accept any citizen that is not Belizean. Any Belizean that they send back, we welcome them. We need workers so we don’t have a problem with that.”
On Tuesday, vehicle owners voiced their frustrations over the delays at the Department of Transport, struggling to get their driver’s licenses and vehicle stickers on time. Earlier today, Prime Minister John Briceño acknowledged the inconvenience and outlined how his government plans to resolve the issue.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I did meet with Minister Ferguson and acting CEO Shal. They ordered a large number of license plates and stickers and what has happened is that, as what CEO Shal confessed that he did not know the extent of the need that was out there and that’s why that’s finished. We already have another order and I am to check with the Ministry of Finance to see if they have already made the payment, but an order has already been made. With this order, we should be able to address all the needs going forward.”
Despite the Belize Peace Movement filing a claim in the High Court, Prime Minister John Briceño says there’s just not enough time to conduct a redistricting exercise before the upcoming general election. He also touched on the controversial practice of handout politics; a tactic used by both major parties.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I don’t think that was filed properly, but most importantly, we have to be also practical. Whilst I firmly believe that there must be redistricting, unfortunately, it’s still in the National Assembly and until that comes up from there then we can have the real… proceed with it. But the truth of the matter is that the election is upon us and I don’t think we’d have enough time to do the proper delineation and the lists and having different representatives to know who’s going to be in their area or not. So, it’s something that I will definitely give special and urgent attention if we are given the opportunity to form the next government.”
Marion Ali
“What plan does your government have to mitigate this old practice by both parties to buy or influence votes, using money, handouts, or whatever?”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I don’t think… certainly, it’s a practice that we try not to encourage because it’svery costly. So, I know a lot of times, people in the NGO community, and even you in the media, talk about political finance reform. Well, there is nothing to reform. We need to have political finance legislation. I wish we could have one, but one that’s practical, one that’s workable because that would then allow us to spend less money. So, I would love to have something that can work.”
Commissioner of Police Chester Williams has been at the helm for six years, making him the longest-serving Police Commissioner in Belize’s history. Appointed during the U.D.P’s last administration, Williams is now preparing to step down. Reflecting on his tenure, he shared the key factors that contributed to his successful term.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“Six years is a lot. six years is a lot. It’s a long time. I am the most senior police chief in Central America and the Caribbean in terms of years as police chief. And could not have survived this long as a commissioner of police. Had it not been for the support of my commanders and every police officers out there, I know at times my drive is not something that is pleasing to them, but I am a fierce leader, just as you are. When it’s time to get tough, I can be the toughest person in the room. And when it’s time to be soft, I can be Leadership for me is about adjusting your attitude based on situations and knowing what to do and when to do certain things. And if you as a leader cannot make that adjustment, you’re going to be in problems. Because as much as I may curse out my commanders at times. When I done with them, I don’t we move on from there. Like never happen, and that is one, one thing I think they respect me for, because I know that when I come hard at them, it’s because I want to see them doing better, so I basically made them into something more tougher. Having reaches milestone now. I am not saying that I am leaving now, but certainly I have started to contemplate on my next plan, my next move, what I will do after this. Yes, I am an attorney. I have a profession I can go to. But believe you me, I have fight all my life to put criminals behind bars. I don’t see myself fighting to take them out. So going into private practice as an attorney is not something I am thinking of. At this time, my hope is that when I leave from here as commissioner, I can continue in public service. That would be my desire.”
Some police inspectors have been grumbling about still receiving sergeant-level pay despite their promotions. Today, Commissioner Williams shed some light on the issue, pointing out that the problem often lies with the very people complaining. He explained that many of the newly promoted inspectors haven’t submitted their increment forms to adjust their salaries. This oversight was flagged as recently as last week.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“One of the issues we have is that, the same people who are complaining. Many a times, they are their own problem. Every year, you are told to make sure that you fill out your appraisal forms and submit the appraisal forms in time. The policy is that you must do your appraisal three months before your incremental date. Some of these same inspectors, we have to be running behind them to submit their appraisal forms. If you get promoted to inspector, your salary would change. You would no longer get a sergeant salary, you would get an inspector salary. How will the PA unit in the public service adjust your salary from Sargeant to inspector if your salary is your current salary as a sergeant is not correct because you have not submitted your increment fomr. They cannot do it. Even up to last week, the AO had to be running behind some of them who, whose name has been submitted for promotion and the public service and the governor general is asking for their farms and we can’t even get it. So here we are pushing for them to be promoted. But, they are unwilling to do their part to secure their promotion.”
