ComPol Rosado Explains Media Exclusion from CompStat

Two weeks ago, we told you about a meeting that usually draws close public attention, but this time, something was different. The Belize Police Department held its annual CompStat meeting in Belmopan, and for the first time, the media was not invited. That meant no questions, no clarifications, and no opportunity for the public to see how crime data is being assessed and explained. Today, we finally got a chance to ask Commissioner of Police, Doctor Richard Rosado, why the press was left out. His response? Police were “trying something different,” and he says the decision on whether independent media houses should be invited was left to the Government Press Office. So, does closing the door on the media limit transparency, or is this simply a change in approach? We asked the questions many people at home have been wondering about, and we’ll share what the Commissioner had to say.

 

Dr. Richard Rosado, Commissioner of Police

“I think it is a misstatement for the media to say they have been invited for the past few years. The media has never been invited for the CompStat meeting. They are invited after the meeting to ask questions, but they have never been invited to the CompStat meeting. This is the first time we invited the press office to join us through the opening session. But to say that the media has been invited for the past few years it is a misstatement from the media.”

 

Reporter

“But that is semantics, why were we not invited to ask questions?”

 

Dr. Richard Rosado

“This year we wanted to try something and we wanted to see whether we should invite or should not and then I left it up to our press office and we decided to. But I have no objections to continue inviting the media for questions. I have no objections to that.”

 

Reporter

“But should a decision like that be left loosely? This is an important aspect for public transparency that we are there to ask the questions.”

 

Dr. Richard Rosado

“Like I said, this year we wanted to try something new, and for the media to say they have been invited for years, it is a misstatement, it is being disingenuous because they have never been invited to the CompStat meeting. They have been invited after the meeting to ask questions. And I have no objection or no reservation in inviting them after the meeting to ask questions.”

 

Reporter

“So will we be invited next year?”

 

Dr. Richard Rosado

“No objections.”