This was confirmed to us today by Minister of Police and Public Safety, Doug Singh. He explained that Jeffries contract is being terminated effective first December. But, it's not like he's being fired; he is being released from his contract so he can take up a new contract with an unspecified government ministry, which wants his service. Singh would not tell us what Ministry it is as it appears that agreement is still being finalized.

So, on Thursday, Acting Deputy Commissioner, David Henderson will take over the post of Commissioner, also in an acting capacity. Henderson will hold over for what's supposed to be a few months until a new foreign commissioner takes over. Yes, though we haven't heard about it for some time, that plan is still live; Singh confirmed that there is a short list of five persons, which is now on final review.

Singh says that depending on which of the five is approved a new Compol could - and we stress the conditionality of that - could be in place by earliest, the end of February.

Singh confirmed that all the applicants for the post are foreign.

And, so, the reign of Crispin Jeffries which began on April 30, 2009 ends at 30 months. He was initially contracted for one year, and got two contract renewals - making it clear that he had the confidence of his employers, the Government of Belize. We can't say that any good boss is or should ever be popular or universally - liked, but it seems enough to say that Jeffries' punitive personnel decisions and chronic favoritism, had worn thin in a department where many tell us that morale is down because of those tactics. Whatever the case, he leaves just as he has elevated many of those so called favorites in a sweeping round of promotions.

From our perspective, we simply know that he had ceased being available or accountable to the press - and was permitted to be that way by his political bosses. The last time Jeffries had a press conference was in September of 2010; since then we only managed to steal one interview with him.