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Hon. Elodio Aragon Jr., Minister of State- Home Affairs
"I think it goes a long way because many times people work and are not rewarded. We want to build their confidence and self-esteem that what they are doing is the right thing. We have to recognize and appreciate and honour them. The best way we can do that is to honour them publicly and recognizing them for the good work they have done. It is very important for a department like the police department."

"Men and women in uniform, especially the police department, have a tough job, they have to patrol those streets, put their lives at risk. They are the first ones to respond to incidents and all of these things don't come easy. not everyone is made to be a police officer. It takes a certain character a certain commitment to service for their community. Many times it is not recognized because the media does not highlight the great work police officers do. Most of the time, the time that they want to give on the air is the time to show the gruesomeness of murders, robberies, etc They don't highlight at times the great work that police officers do to arrest someone to bring them to justice etc. These kinds of events go a long way in bringing about that kind of recognition and the spotlight on these officers who have excelled during the year and I think that we are proud of them and we have to continue to have these events."

Corporal Allan Woods, San Pedro Police-CIB
"I received awards for drug interdiction 2017. That includes the whole Eastern Division including the Coastal and the different precincts here in Belize City."

"We usually do drug operations and firearm operations of last 2017. In the early part of 2017, I was also tasked to do an operation in Caye Caulker. During that operation there I did a lot of drug arrests there that are the reason I received the award for the most drug interdiction."

Sahar Vasquez, reporter
"Has the award given you more incentive to make more arrests?"

Corporal Allan Woods
"Yes definitely. I feel good. I feel proud of myself of the offenders. I also feel proud of the officers that work along with me because I had a team working along with me who also assisted in the searches and arrests of the offenders."

Corporal Roman Andrews, Prosecution Branch- San Pedro
"I am being awarded as the prosecutor of the year for 2017. Every day is a challenge it is always a new experience but I try to do my best every break I get."

Reporter
"What does it take to be the prosecutor of the year? What kind of work did you have to do?"

Corporal Roman Andrews
"Well, it takes a lot of reading. I have to be reading all the time my colleague's friends, and families all support me so I just keep pushing to the next level."

Sahar Vasquez
"Did you expect to win this?"

Corporal Roman Andrews
"No no not at all but like I said the hard work pays off. I have been a member of the police department for some eleven years now."

Minister Aragon says that they will be working to reward officers countrywide for a job well done.