SOE Not Necessary at This Time Says ComPol Jones

Reporters also asked ComPol Jones if the need has arisen for the declaration of a State of Emergency. He says that he does not think that time has come as yet. Jones reaffirmed the department’s commitment to crack down on criminals by ramping up its operations, specifically throughout the streets of Belize City. Here is how he puts it.

 

Bart Jones, Acting Commissioner of Police

“Well, the issue of SOE, while many may think that it is the, from the department, the department does not do SOE proclamations. And so we will continue to do what we are doing and improve where we can. As it is often said, the greatest room is the room for improvement. So we’ll be improving where we can to address the situation. The matter of SOE, if and when that comes, then we will deal with that accordingly. Having spoken to the commanders today and having discussions with Mr. Dawson from the LIU, I am firm of the view that we are not there yet in terms of an SOE. So we will try to see what we can do to arrest the situation.”

 

Reporter

“Would there be a specific operation launched?”

 

Bart Jones

“There would be a series of measures, as I said earlier, a series of measures that we’re going to put in place, including intelligence-led operations and searches targeting the main players. As I said, we’ll try to keep the citizens’ discomfort as much as possible, but there will be checkpoints, there will be searches, and other measures that we’re going to put in place.”