Aaron Gamboa Out as Special Patrol Unit Commander

After nearly a decade at the helm of the Belize Police Department’s Special Patrol Unit, Assistant Superintendent Aaron Gamboa is being replaced with immediate effect. The move forms part of a wider shake-up under Home Affairs Minister Julius Espat, who is restructuring the department’s leadership. Reports indicate that Gamboa will now be reassigned to the National Operations Office. But how involved was Prime Minister John Briceño in the decision, and how much does he know about the changes taking place within the department? We put those questions to him.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño 

“I would have to speak with Minister Espat, but Minister Espat has been doing a number of changes. He has been shaking up the Belize Police Department and we need to do some of that. We cant keep business as usual. So I think I will have to speak with him. He did tell me that he is making some changes, but he did not say who are the people he changed. So, I think, I am sure Mr. Espat would have a good reason why he did that change.”

 

Reporter

“There is this rumor that you told him to stay away from the Budna case. A rumor that you told Minister Espat not to shake things up in terms of the Budna case.”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Don’t listen to rumors. You can ask me the question upright. Did I tell him? And no, I did not tell him.”

 

An interim commander has reportedly been placed at the helm of the Special Patrol Unit.

 

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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