7 News Belize

The BDF Bungled With Mexicans Escaping From Quarantine
posted (May 18, 2020)
On Friday's news, we told you about the 3 Mexicans from Xcalac, who escaped from quarantine. That's after the Coast Guard caught them conducting illegal fishing in the Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve.

They were supposed to have been in quarantine for 21 days, after which they would face criminal charges for immigration offenses, as well as illegal fishing. But, somehow, all 3 men were able to evade the authorities who were in charge of the ITVET building Corozal, which was being used as that municipalitiy's quarantine center.

On this afternoon's Ask The Experts webcast, Police Commissioner Chester Williams said it's the BDF who bumbled that one:






Cop Got A Grip In Guinea Grass

Another topic that the public wanted his input on was that cell phone video out of Guinea Grass Village in the Orange Walk District.

As we showed you on Friday, a police officer was recorded have a moment with a young-unmasked civilian from the Village. The officer was attempting to arrest the young man for the mask violation, but his father was resisting. That man stepped toward the cop, and on reflex, the officer pulled his weapon but did not fire it.

There was a robust debate on Facebook on whether the show of force was justified, and today, the Commissioner said that his officer acted professionally. Here's how he explained why:






Compol On Continuing Curfew

During that same webcast, one of the viewers then asked the Police Commissioner to explain the rationale behind keeping the curfews in place.

During the course of the conversation, the Commissioner made the point that the continued limitation of movement mitigates against a possible COVID-19 second wave. But, he also stressed the point that the curfew helps police in their fight against crime, which has trended down, since the curfew's implementation. Here's how he explained why:






Gangs Slowed Down after SOE

Several weeks before the State of Emergency was implemented for COVID-19, the Police and the Government implemented the SOUTHSIDE State of Emergency for 8 areas of Belize City.

You'll remember that it was a response to that 48-hour crime wave, which resulted in 6 murders, including the killings of the two 5-year-olds, Kia Herbert and Dominique Rhamdas. 130 suspected gang members were detained and jailed for an entire month and released only on the condition that they would keep the peace.

The Commissioner told the viewers of the Ask the Experts Webcast that since then, for the most part, the gangs have been staying out of trouble:










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