And our final story from the Police Commissioner before we go to break is about his Hattieville Commander, Assistant Superintendent Rochelle Chan.
Last week, he had to go before the Senate Select Committee to defend his reputation after Alvarine Burgess accused him of being a major player in the visa hustling business.
Burgess told the Senators that Chan recruited her to get visas for Chinese Nationals by bribing Minister of Government for recommendation letters which assured that visas would be automatically approved. Chan responded saying that she is lying and that she made up the entire story to ruin his reputation. So, what does his police boss think about a senior officer brought into such a controversy? Here's how the COMPOL put it:
Allen Whylie, Commissioner of Police
"I have heard of it and I will say that it would be improper and unprofessional of myself to comment in respect to that allegation. The senate committee is ongoing and I'm certain that whenever they conclude their inquiry they will be writing their reports and making a number of recommendations for further action and so I would wait to see how that goes."
Reporter
"But sir, have you at least met with him or spoken with him regarding the allegations? I mean it is your department and it does put somewhat of a black eye on the department which is your concern."
Allen Whylie
"No. I have not spoken with him. As I said, it is an allegation. All citizens of Belize are entitled to be presumed to be innocent until proven guilty. He's a police officer but he's still entitled to the same rights as every other person, so I have not spoken to him on that."
Reporter
"Sir you've said that the senate [inquiry] will run its course and if whatever decisions the senators make in their reports, should they direct that criminal action be taken, is it a commitment from you that those will be carried through if the decision is made that criminal prosecution must be done or that further investigation is done?"
Allen Whylie
"Whatever the senate committee does or recommends I'm certain those recommendations won't come to me because there is a process. But whenever and if it reaches that stage I can assure you that we'll do what we need to do."
Later on in the newscast, we'll have just a little bit more from the Commissioner when he'll discuss all those officers he honoured yesterday for long and exemplary service.
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