You'll definitely notice the pattern: several of these incidents happened around 8:00 on Friday and Saturday nights - on the same weekend that the curfew was pushed back 1 one extra hour on both of these weekend nights.
Once again the cops are being challenged on the theory that crime is down mainly because of the curfew.
The press put that to Police Commissioner Chester Williams today, and here's how he responded:
Reporter
"They're saying that the reason for still holding on to the curfew is to maintain a low crime rate during this time."
Chester Williams
"You would know that most of our major crimes were committed before the curfew hour we currently have. The curfew is not being used as a means to suppress crime. The Government and the Oversight Committee, in their wisdom, saw the need to maintain the curfew, and so they did. I would agree that the curfew, to some extent, may help people, because you know for a fact how some of our Belizeans go. If you move the curfew, and you open up more, people will go socialize here, there, and then, you'll have gatherings. If it is that there is someone who is being infected, it lends the potential for the infection to spread. So, it is a matter for the oversight committee as to the reason why the curfew is in place. From a law enforcement standpoint, we continue to do what we can to be able to maintain a low crime rate."
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