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Williams investigated that case personally and said that the DPP will have to decide if police bear any responsibility for his death:..

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"There is still a causation element or there may be in so far as it's the police officers' who were pursuing him and indeed shot him and the shock of the shot may have caused the choking. Are you able to speak about where the investigation is in to the action of that officer?"

ACP Chester Williams
"Because of the nature of that incident itself and how it occurred, it is not a straight forward open and close investigation and so I believe that it is best to leave it to the learned director of public prosecutions to decide how she will deal with the matter and as you rightly said I don't know which law school you went to, but you touch the issue of causation and that is a legal principle that I am sure she will be looking at when she address the issue. As soon as any directive is given from her in respect of that matter then we move forward with that investigation."

Cpl. Requena;s Recklessness

But ACP Williams didn't have to consult the DPP on a smaller matter involving a disorderly corporal in Cayo. He barged into a restaurant and casually pointed his weapon at the woman behind the bar. He then held the gun to another man's head, as he puts him in a chokehold.

That's Corporal Daniel Requena in early October, and ACP Williams said he was charged:

Minister Wants PSB Autonomous

That's a lot of police charged - a higher number than usual. And it's the product of a beefed up Professional standards Branch that's showing its teeth. Minister of State for Home Affairs Elodio Aragon says this kind of oversight is a major part of a maturing Department. Now he wants to make this branch even more autonomous - so you won't have to go into the police station to com-plain against the very same police. Here's the explanation:..

Which Westby?

And in a final spot of police news tonight, we have an update on murder suspect Vildo Westby.

Westby - who is wanted for killing 44 year old Islander Felix Ayuso in February, was reportedly captured in Las Choapas, Mexico near Vereacruz two weeks ago. But, initially, police said they had no confirmation of that.

Today, they acknowledged that someone has been caught, but said he has not been conclusively identified as Vildo Westby:...

Listening To The Children

Today, the annual Child Advisory President's Meeting was held. But it wasn't a usual board meeting with adults sitting around a table listening to long-winded presentations - there were skits, performances and speeches by very outspoken kids - who just want to make a difference for Belizean youth. We stopped by the Belize Institute for Management to hear what these child leaders had to say.

That was the main message from one of the Child Advisory Board's presentation.

All the board members from the 9 municipalities gathered today at the Belize Institute of Management to bring awareness of the issues affecting children in their area as well as to share what their board has accomplished over the year.

Susan Kasedde, UNICEF Country Rep.
"Today's event is really important because it is the annual meeting of the Children Advisory Bodies from across Belize, we have children representing children from every municipality across the country. They are sharing their highlight in terms of the work they have been able to do, how they mobilized other children, how they represented their concerns and aspirations of children in local government planning and it is an opportunity for senior level members of government to hear from children and to appreciate the potential that this mechanism provides for gathering the voices of children and making child sensitive decisions for sustainable development."

And to really showcase the work they have done, each body created a model of their municipality and discussed how this initiative has impacted their lives and the lives of youth in their area.

Sole Meighan, Belmopan Child Advisory Board
"Some activities we have done is an anti-bullying campaign, we have recently done a children party program."

"We are also telling the Mayor to put up more lamppost and fixing the drainage and stuff like that."

Courtney Weatherburne, reporter
"So what are some of the things or activities that you have done so far you know?"

Nahjae Vicente, Dangriga Advisory Board
"We had told the mayor to have a little football summer camp."

Courtney Weatherburne
"In Dangriga right?"

Nahjae Vicente, Dangriga Advisory Board
"And we had a dacne camp teaching how to do Garifuna dances and teaching how to dacne and how to talk the Garifuna language and different languages so they can understand."

Gerson Makhwani, Corozal Child Advisory Board
"I like the idea, I have been a member for two years now, this past year I was elected president and I find it very well because it gives children a voice to talk."

Based on today's meeting, a report will be compiled and sent to government officials.

This is an initiative by UNICEF and UNDP.

Happy With Hampers

Only four more days until Christmas and the giving streak continues. Today the police gave some residents of precinct two an early Christmas present filled with Christmas day essentials. We spoke to some happy recipients.

BEL also did its part today by distributing 150 Christmas hampers to 90 families and 60 senior citizens across the country.

BEL also sponsored Christmas luncheons at feeding centers countrywide.

Belize Joins Over 100 Nations In Rebuking Trump At UN

Belize was one of more than 100 countries who rebuked US President Donald Trump today in a United Nations Vote. 128 nations voted in favor of a United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for the United States to drop its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Trump had threatened to cut off financial aid to countries that supported the resolution. His Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley made it even more plain. She wrote her fellow ambassadors to say, quote, "I want you to know that the President and US take this vote personally….The President will be watching this vote carefully and has requested I report back on those countries who voted against us. We will take note of each and every vote on this issue."

But, that had little effect on the 128 countries which backed the resolution. Only nine sided with the US and voted against it, while 35 abstained. Interestingly, as this vote chart shows, Belize's neighbors Guatemala and Honduras were two of those supporting the US by voting against the resolution. Our other neighbor to the north, Mexico played it safe and abstained, as did many Caribbean countries including Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and the Bahamas.

The case of Honduras is interesting as that country's President Juan Orlando Hernández is trying to hold unto power after a disputed election weeks ago. The Government of Mexico has recognized him as the winner of the election, but the US has yet to do so - while the OAS is calling for another election.

What Next If There's A No To The ICJ

For the past 2 nights, we been showing you the perspectives of both Foreign Affairs Minister Wilfred Elrington and PUP Senator Eamon Courtenay on what should be done about the Maritime Areas Act, and how it could affect Belize's Claim if the territorial dispute actually goes to the ICJ for an attempt at final resolution.

Guatemala will hold its ICJ referendum in Mid-April of next year, and Belize is looking at either the end of 2018, or the beginning of 2019, as possible time frames.

In order for the territorial dispute to go to the ICJ, both nations have to vote yes to the referendum. But, if either votes no, then there will be no ICJ case.

So what happens in practical terms if the voters in either, or both countries do say "no"?

In his interview with us yesterday, Courtenay told us what the Opposition Party would like to see done in those circumstances, factoring in the Maritime Areas Act.

Hon. Eamon Courtenay - PUP Senator
"Let's look at the scenario, and let's look at the position of the PUP. In negotiations, Guatemala would recognize Belize as an independent country, the Maritime Areas Act was passed, to provide for this scope for negotiations, down south. That has been there, since 1991, 1992, when the Maritime Areas Act came into force. The PUP's position is this. We have decided that if we go to referendum, and the people agree, we go to ICJ. If either party says no, we can't go to the ICJ. Then, what happens? Well, you can resume negotiations if you want, or we can continue to live the way we are living right now. Our position is that let us amend the Maritime Areas Act to claim what we're entitled to, under international law, so that in the event that the People of Belize vote no, any time after 2019, that negotiations start again, that is off the table. It is no longer open to anybody to negotiate some settlement in the area between Sarstoon and Ranguana Caye. We are saying that we should take it off the table now. Take it off the table, if the referendum fails, and negotiations start again, we have to negotiate about something else. That is no longer on the table. Leaving it there means that some future government can come and say, well, as part of a negotiated settlement, we have reached some sort of arrangement down in the Sarstoon. We say, hell no."

Opinons On Legal Opinions

You also heard Foreign Affairs Minister Wilfred Elrington say on Tuesday night that Belize's lawyers advised him that to amend the Maritime Areas Act right now could have negative consequences for Belize-Guatemala relations.

Well, Courtenay took on that concern, and said that if the territorial dispute is taken to the ICJ, those lawyers are not the type we want fighting our case. Here's are the perspectives of the current Foreign Minister and the Former Foreign Minister on that issue:

Hon. Wilfred Elrington - Minister of Foreign Affairs
"When we spoke to the lawyers - I was in London about 2 weeks ago - and the lawyers understood immediately, immediately the possible potential negative consequence of pursuing the path that Courtenay is adopting at this time."

Hon. Eamon Courtenay - PUP Senator
"I don't believe him for a second. First of all, no international lawyer should be advising us on the consequence of diplomatic matter with Guatemala. That's not their brief. They are to advise us on the claim, and the legal position in our claim. If lawyers in London are telling Mr. Elrington, 'Don't amend the Maritime Areas Act now because it will upset Guatemala,' those lawyers need to be fired and fired immediately."

Hon. Wilfred Elrington
"Because all the Guatemalans want is an excuse to put it off. That's all. Time is on their side. Time is not our side. So, if they can say to the world, look, we are going to postpone this matter because Belize is doing this thing, and it's in bad faith."

Hon. Eamon Courtenay
"Listen carefully to what the Foreign Minister of Belize is saying to the Belizean people. We should not amend the Maritime Areas Act, as advised by international lawyers, because Guatemala, our enemy, who claims our country will not like it. Listen carefully. Belize should not do what its legal interest because Guatemala will not like it."