CEO Usher Denies Special Treatment for Garcia  

The CEO in the Ministry of National Security, Francis Usher, says there was no influence from the top down in the case of Benjamin Garcia. According to Usher, Garcia was dealt with like anyone else, and his gun licence will be revoked. Garcia was fined three thousand dollars after pleading guilty to discharging a licensed firearm in Belize City early last Saturday. We put the questions about special treatment to Usher. Here is what he told us.

 

Francis Usher, CEO, Ministry of National Security

“So there was zero influence from anyone, whether it be from the ministry or the senior police command. In that case, he was handled like anyone else. It’s interesting because he is perceived to be from the Chebat camp, but I don’t know him to be. Since Minister Chebat has become the Minister of National Security, it’s not like I’ve seen Garcia in any meetings or anything like that. So it’s a very interesting perception. Nevertheless, sometimes perception is reality. But I can categorically say there was no influence from the top down. He was dealt with like everyone else would have been dealt with. He was charged. As it relates to his firearm licence, it is something that we’ve discussed as a board, and we’ve already charted the way forward.”

 

Shane Williams

“Will his license be revoked?”

 

Francis Usher

“As it should be in all of these sorts of offences with firearms, yes.”

 

The charge against Mexican businessman Sergio Martinez Ramirez, who was in the car when Garcia fire the gun, was withdrawn.

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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