Last month the double murders of the island tour guide Mario Graniel, and his guest, American doctor Gary Swank dominated local and international headlines and caused mass cancellations at San Pedro tourist destinations.
Government and the police reacted by announcing the recruitment of 23 new Special Constables tourism police - to be deployed to key tourist destinations. They have been trained to police the country's most valuable asset, Tourism, which contributes almost 30 % of our country's GDP.
This afternoon the Special Constables graduated from the Police Training Academy. We found out about their training and their mission:
Sheldon Arzu, Graduate, Special Constable
"Courses covered were description of persons and property, first responder training by the scenes of crime personnel, exhibit and package labelling, interviewing skills, BTB presentations which covered the laws under the tourism act, report writing, how to give evidence, and case file compilation to mention a few."
ASP Alison McLaughing, Commandant, Police Academy
"To the new addition of special constables they will be deployed to San Pedro and Placencia to complement what we already have and to reestablish the presence of the tourism police in the area. I say to you the communities and stakeholders in the tourism industry to come onboard to assist in uplifting the image of the tourism industry. Assist us in fighting crime in your community to make it safe for you and visitors."
Chester Williams, Commissioner
"Cuba Gooding: said "I believe that Police officers are modern day heroes because they protect us." And that is true, people don't see it sometimes but u know what the minute they find themselves becoming the victim of a crime the first person they call upon is God, after God the next person is the police. Oh God call the Police. So you see that the next most important person after God is the police."
"And so your task is not an easy one as you have heard it is a difficult one but I am sure that with the training that the staff of this academy have imparted to you that you will all be able to discharge that function and not only discharge it but to do so to the best of your ability to ensure that you make every tourist that visits our shore feel safe and comfortable in our country."
Special Constables Graduates
"Do swear that I will bear true faith and allegiance to Belize and uphold the constitution and the law and I w ill conscientiously, impartially, and to the best of my ability discharge my duty as special constable and do right to all to all manner of people without fear or favor affection or ill will so help me god."
13 of them will be assigned to San Pedro, five to Placencia - and the remaining five are on standby until there are funds to activate them.
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