Minister of State Edmond Castro and his cyclist son Jahfari Castro are the subject of public controversy again tonight. This time, a police Corporal has made a report accusing father and son of assaulting him and cursing him out.
It happened on Sunday - near the end of the Leslie's Cycling criterium - which is held in downtown Belize City on Albert and Regent Streets. According to reports, Jahfari got a flat tyre late in the race. Under those circumstances, the rider has to re-enter the race and try to chase down the other riders - virtually assuring a poor finish.
Seems Castro was unhappy with the on the spot ruling by cycling officials and he protested it by sitting on his bike in the middle of Regent Street while the other riders were approaching and whizzing past.
That was an accident waiting to happen and that's when Corporal Chris Smith got involved. In a police statement he says he told him he needed to move. Jahfari refused and that's when the officer pulled his bicycle handle to remove his bicycle and he claims Jahfari pushed him in the chest.
And then the Corporal says Jahfari's dad, Edmond Castro then pushed through the barrier and pushed him in his chest and also cursed him.
Corporal smith says he informed both Castros of the offense they had committed, but right then a crowd of people in the area gathered around and someone dragged Jahfari away.
And while that is serious enough - what supposedly happened next is even more concerning. The officer said he requested court action against both father and son and expected that charges would be brought against the Castro's for assaulting a police officer, obstruction and using indecent words. But reports say the report has been failed as "for future reference" - meaning that court action will not be taken. We tried to reach Edmond Castro for comment but he did not respond to our text message requests.
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