Jules Vasquez
"We know that there's been a very surly letter from your CEO, urging the commissioner to assume the role of a caretaker and move on."

Kareem Musa, Min. Home Affairs
"You know, and I mentioned it this morning. Jules, I have the unenviable task of overseeing the transition of authority, the transition of the head of the Belize Police Department at a time when Belize undoubtedly has seen one of the greatest commissioners, no matter what Jules Vasquez might try to say or do to this Commissioner of Police, his record speaks for itself."

"And so it's a difficult thing because, I know the commissioner still has a lot of life left in him. He's only 51 years old. But the Prime minister and myself discuss the future, because we certainly would never want to lose our commissioner and his, capabilities."

"As you know, last year we had, the most, traffic fatalities, probably in the history of the country. Commissioner can back me up on that. And we can see where even while he was commissioner sharing with us at the cabinet level a lot of strategies that can be put in place to make our highways a lot safer."

"And so we thought it fitting. Myself and the prime minister, the prime minister, of course, to elevate our commissioner of police to the position of the chief executive officer in that ministry."

Jules Vasquez
"But you didn't answer the question, which is: He received a very - you could call it obstreperous or rude letter."

Kareem Musa, Min. Home Affairs
"I need Google, I need a dictionary, Jules."

Jules Vasquez
"And he received a very curt letter from the CEO saying..."

Kareem Musa, Min. Home Affairs
"I don't think it was curt. I think."

Jules Vasquez
"It told him to revert to the role of caretaker, which doesn't exist!"

Kareem Musa, Min. Home Affairs
"No, no, no, what you have to understand, Jules is that during this transition period, while it is that we would hope for a seamless, smooth transition, there are certain actions and certain decisions that can be made that can affect the department moving forward. And so it was just a reminder in terms of the transition, you know, it has cost implications for transfers. It has cost implications for promotions. Let us try to make the transition as smooth as possible. Because not necessarily the new Commissioner of Police would agree to these transfers. And so we have to make sure that we preserve the status quo as best as possible."

"And so that's how I see the letter. Just saying let us preserve the status quo as we transition."

Jules Vasquez
"I know I put you in an invidious position because the commissioner is here. But it is my distinct sense that he kind of got pushed out."

Kareem Musa, Min. Home Affairs
"No, no, no. Jules. Linda. Linda, stop. Linda, listen, if you would recall, Jules, I think the commissioner, late, late last year or early this year, had mentioned to the media and to the nation that he would be departing this year. It's not pushing out at all. It's elevating graduating even to the next level of CEO."

"He did indicate that he wanted to serve, in his capacity as a public servant. And to me, that is an elevation. You might not see it that way, but it is an elevation."

Jules Vasquez
"But CEO home affairs would have been a natural progression."

Kareem Musa, Min. Home Affairs
"We already have a CEO of Home Affairs. And like I said, the Prime Minister felt it fitting that the commissioner would do an excellent job. As you know, we have not had a CEO in the Ministry of Transport, I think at least for six months prior to the election. And so there was that vacancy there."