Last week, we reported twice on the situation with Pedro's Inn on San Pedro. That's the hotel where police reinforcements have been staying since June of last year after a tourist was murdered on the island. But, Commissioner Chester Williams balked at paying the 6 figure hotel bill when he saw it earlier this month. He stated categorically that he won't pay one hundred thousand dollars - and suggested that the BTB and the BTIA will have to help cover the costs.
And while he has said this to the press, he still has not spoken to the owner of Pedro's Inn, Peter Lawrence. In June of last year, Lawrence agreed to open up 11 rooms for 22 police officers - and, tonight, 6 of them are still there.
In that time, he hasn't been paid, but he says he has been sending his bills to the Island's police formation monthly. Now, Lawrence isn't pushing the panic button and is certainly not pushing the police out of the rooms. He has an excellent working relationship with island cops - but says headquarters in Belmopan has disappointed him. He told us more this afternoon when he came to Belize City.
Peter Lawrence, Owner, Pedro's Inn
"Remember I did not take this to the public or the media, because we were always told well next week and Christopher Noble was asking. I don't know who he asked, but I could have a very good guess, because there aren't too many people above him and he isn't going to ask somebody below him. Obviously, the bills were known and so critical, not really."
Reporter
"Is that something the Commissioner could have realistically said, based on your knowledge of the facts that he was surprised to learn that he had 6 figure arrears with Pedro's Inn?"
Peter Lawrence, Owner, Pedro's Inn
"What I could say I'm surprised that both the BTIA, BTB, Town Board and the police all knew that over 22 officers were on the island and they knew they were staying at Pedro's."
Reporter
"Was it at any point your understanding that it was a shared responsibility as the commissioner has alluded to between the police, BTB and BTIA?"
Peter Lawrence, Owner, Pedro's Inn
"I knew that I was told, because it comes down to hearsay what people say and say do I know for a fact that the BTIA said they didn't say to me, they said yes they were going to help the police. That was in the paper. What does help the police means to keep the police on the island? I don't know what it means. All I know is that the police, but nobody - if ever knows the police on the island, certainly somebody has to figure out we're going to get paid."
Reporter
"When we spoke to the commissioner last week twice, he said that he gave the directive and he expects it to be followed, that the officers will be moving from your spot Pedro's Inn. What is the current situation? What is your understanding?"
Peter Lawrence, Owner, Pedro's Inn
"Well the commissioner did not talk to me, has not talk to me about this situation at all, so Christopher Noble said look I got to move the people, the place that I got to move them to is inhabitable in DFC. He said you got to do me a favor, we'll work out something over the long run, but I need 3 rooms for 6 officers from Thursday. So I said sure. I mean what do you do when somebody comes and say. This is nothing to do with the commissioner now, it's a favor from me to Chris Noble. Maybe somebody will help in the town, maybe they won't."
Reporter
"And so at this point are you a little bit frustrated?"
Peter Lawrence, Owner, Pedro's Inn
"Not frustrated, disappointed. Yes of course everybody wants to get paid, but the island has prospered and Belize in general has prospered at very insignificant amount of money."
Reporter
"Do you expect you will get paid?"
Peter Lawrence, Owner, Pedro's Inn
"Oh yeah."
Reporter
"How much is the bill?"
Peter Lawrence, Owner, Pedro's Inn
"Am, don't know, honestly I don't know, I'm going to guess, up to last Thursday about $117,000."
Lawrence estimates the total bill is $132,000 dollars minus $15,000 for trade and property taxes written off by the Town Council as its contribution.
And Lawrence says he's not being exacting with the police - he says he's had a long history of generosity with the Department and the Ministry:
Peter Lawrence, Owner, Pedro's Inn
"Last year we gave $19,000 worth of rooms, It's approximate because we don't keep records, but all the people who stayed, the hotel on the beach is $150 a night and sometimes they'll get the deluxe rooms which is $300 a night."
Reporter
"It's not always for security business, maybe personal business?"
Peter Lawrence, Owner, Pedro's Inn
"Maybe, I don't ask."
Tonight, 6 officers remain in 3 rooms at Pedro's Inn tonight.
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