Last night on this newscast, police press officer Sergeant Fitzroy
Yearwood made a bombshell disclosure when he said - almost in passing - that
Police Constable Jermaine Mangar – the supposed head of the police crime
ring – had nothing to do with the Scotia armed robbery in Spanish Lookout.
That was one heck of a disclosure because five days earlier, his boss, the Commissioner
of police backed up by his boss the Prime Minister had said just the opposite.
For context we now repeat the Thursday comments of the COMPOL and the PM, and
then yesterday’s remarks from the Police Press Officer.
[April 1st, 2010]
Crispin Jeffries, Commissioner of Police
“The incident in Spanish Lookout took place with the assistance of
persons we believe to be members of the Belize Police Department and I would
like to just keep your taste buds going on that subject matter because I know
it is sensational and I see my friend Jules smiling. We believe the incident
that took place on the day before yesterday in Spanish Lookout is such that
it could not have been done without proper organization and support.”
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
“There is a ring that is operating and that all the incidents that
the Commissioner listed are in fact connected, that this ring is responsible
for every single one of those incidents and that the ring was being masterminded
by a serving police officer.”
[April 6th, 2010]
Keith Swift,
“Does the police still believe this Scotia Bank Robbery was a part of
this robbery ring?”
Sgt. Fitzroy Yearwood,
“That I want to clarify. The robbery ring that we believe this police
officer orchestrated is within the confines of Belize City. This robbery at
Spanish Lookout had nothing to do with that specific officer, PC Mangar.”
That causal reversal of position by the Police press Officer generated
a major public relations meltdown for the police department on the morning shows
today and by ten to six this evening, they had another reversal of position.
It says, “the investigation into the Bank of Nova Scotia Robbery is
ongoing.....PC Jermaine Mangar remains as a possible suspect in this investigation.”
It goes on to say, ”in a television interview with the acting
Police Press Officer, Sgt. Fitzroy Yearwood, he was asked if the other three
police officers who have been placed on interdiction from duty were in any way
involved with the Nova Scotia Robbery. The Press Officer replied “no”.”
And it concludes...“The Commissioner of Police reiterates his position
that the investigation is ongoing and PC Mangar is yet to be cleared in relation
to the Spanish Lookout investigation.”
Which is it? Well it seems no one knows for sure, and after the embarrassing
flip flop...and flip...right now, face saving is as important as crime solving.
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