And while police presence will be high, Belize go into Independence day in a strange state - for the first time since Independence, not all Belizeans have unqualified enjoyment of those rights guaranteed in our September 1981 constitution. That’s because of the state of emergency enacted in two areas of the southside 16 days ago.
Today, Acting Commissioner Williams said those areas may be under a state of emergency - but life goes on as normal in those areas - minus the 40 men who are being held for 30 days:…
DCP Chester Williams - Commander of Operations
"We are not about infringing on the rights of law abiding people. If you notice we have been in this for two weeks now and it is not a situation where you’re hearing of rampant police brutality in these two respective areas. As a matter of fact we have not received any complaints internally from any residence of these areas - complained that the police have been violating them."
Government will soon have to decide whether it will extend the state of emergency for another 30 days. We note that there’s a house meeting next week - which we expect Acting Prime Minister Patrick Faber to lead. We understand the PM’s return - ORIGINALLY SLATED FOR SATURDAY THE 22ND - has been delayed a few days for medical reasons.
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