This Thursday, a tropical wave in the western Caribbean Sea is creating widespread but disorganized showers and thunderstorms as it moves westward at about 20 mph. Some development of this system is possible over the northwestern Caribbean Sea or the southwestern Gulf of Mexico in the coming days. It has a low chance (10%) of formation in the next 48 hours and a low chance (30%) in the next 7 days.
Meanwhile, a tropical wave several hundred miles west-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands continues to produce disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Environmental conditions are expected to be conducive for development, and a tropical depression or tropical storm is likely to form this weekend several hundred miles east of the Windward Islands as the system moves westward at 15 to 20 mph. It has a medium chance (40%) of formation in the next 48 hours and a high chance (70%) in the next 7 days.
Someone assaulted the home of Commissioner of Police Chester Williams on Tuesday night in what appears to be a copycat crime. Sometime after nine p.m., an individual rode up to the ComPol’s residence in Belmopan, stood on the roadside and opened fire on the concrete two-storey building, before riding off on a motorcycle. Inside the residence at the time of the shooting was Williams’ twenty-two-year-old son. Following a series of S.O.E. operations in Belize City yesterday, the commissioner boarded a flight to the United States and was en route to New York City when he received a disturbing text message from his son. The top cop was informed that his home was being fired upon, just a few days after the police station in nearby Roaring Creek was sprayed with a shower of bullets. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano with our first story.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“If they think that I am going to be perturbed or intimidated by their action then they have the wrong man. So they can come and shoot a million times, that will not distract me from doing what I need to do. But what I can say to them is that they will be pursued no matter where they go. They will be caught and they will be dealt with.”
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
Commissioner of Police Chester Williams was on the ground on Tuesday morning, where a state of emergency came into effect in the Lake Independence area, as well as other parts of Belize City. During our interview with him, we learned that he was traveling to the United States later that day on official business as Belize’s chief law enforcement officer. Little did he know that, like the incident which happened in Roaring Creek a few days earlier, his residence would also come under gunfire.
Chester Williams
“Well the person went by on motorcycle and he passed in front of the house and he stopped a distance away and fired the shots from there. So again, it goes to show that he’s a coward. I am sure that whoever, that this individual knew I was not at home because they might have heard on the news that I was leaving the country yesterday, following the operations for the SOE and so they took the opportunity, knowing that I was not at home, to have done this. Just about an hour before landing in New York, I got a call from my son who was at home, but the data that you purchase on the plane does not allow you for voice calls., you can only text. So I could not have answered his call. So I messaged him and said to him, “I am in flight. Kindly text.”
The message he received from his son, who was home alone at the time, required immediate action.
Chester Williams
“He text me quickly and said that shots were being fired at the house. I right away forwarded the message to the Belmopan Police Station and asked them to have the police respond immediately and I directed my son not to come out, to stay inside the house secured until the police would arrive there. I must say that the police got there very quickly and they dealt with the situation. They examined the house and reviewed the surveillance camera system that I have at home and they were able to obtain some very useful information.”
Threvane Thomas
Surveillance footage from the scene of the shooting led to the subsequent arrest of this individual, twenty-one-year-old Threvane Thomas, a resident of Camalote Village. Not only was he found with a weapon, steps have also been taken to proceed with a ballistics analysis.
Chester Williams
“They were able to apprehend a suspect, along with the firearm which we believe to have been used in the incident. The firearm is a forty-five caliber pistol that has been packaged and been sent to the National Forensic Science Services ballistics section for examination to be compared with the shells that were found at the scene. So I must say that the police did act very swiftly in making sure that they were able to investigate and find who is responsible.”
ComPol Williams has taken grave offense to the assault on the Roaring Creek Police Station, describing the precinct as a location that is like. an officer’s residence. Less than thirteen hours later, his home would come under attack. Why?
Chester Williams
“His mother happened to be a cook at the training academy. So, she and I have never had any encounter per se. I don’t even know who she is. But that’s as far as I know about him. I know that he has been in trouble with the law before, charged with different offenses and we are looking at him very closely to see who are his close associates. We have a person of interest that we are looking at likewise. It is something that I take very seriously and we will act decisively in making sure that the perpetrators of this and other incidents are brought to justice.”
The Commissioner of Police has taken measures to ensure the safety of his son while away until the weekend.
Chester Williams
“My son is okay. He is like his father, very brave and very courageous young man, he was raised well and he remains at home. Yes, I have put certain security measures in place to ensure his safety until I return back to Belize this coming weekend.”
In the face of an armed attack on one’s home, panic and alarm would immediately ensue. But in the case of Commissioner Williams, he was getting ready to land in New York City for a conference and was still in flight when he received the message. According to the ComPol, he kept his composure and gave specific instructions to his son, as well as Acting Commissioner of Police Bart Jones. Those directives ensured his son’s safety during the attack, they also led to the quick detention of a suspect. Here’s how ComPol Williams recounted his immediate reaction.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“I contacted the police, I had every confidence that they would respond in time and the police did do that. I spoke my son via text messages and explained to him what to do and I know the type of person he is, he is very compliant and once I tell him to do something, he is going to do it. So I had absolutely no worries that everything was going to be okay, and as soon as I landed in New York, I contacted Mr. Jones who is holding over in my absence and gave him certain directives in terms of what I wanted to get done with the investigation. Those were complied with and we are now where we are in terms of having one person in custody with a weapon recovered. The motorcycle used was also recovered during the operations last night. I must say that I am a creature of law. Whilst the criminals operate without any rules, I have to operate within rules and I have to operate within the scope of the law. So as much as, yes, from my personal feelings, my personal standpoint, I would love to do certain things, I cannot do that if it is not going to be done in accordance with the law. So I remain a law-abiding citizen. I am the chief law enforcement officer of the country and I must abide by the laws, and so whatever needs to be done in terms of dealing with any criminal elements, I will always ensure that it is done in accordance with the law.”
The state of emergency that came into effect on Tuesday morning saw the rounding up of almost a hundred men, believed to be gang members, from various communities in Belize City, Cotton Tree and Roaring Creek. Earlier today, they were trooped to the Belize Central Prison where they will remain under lockdown for the next thirty days. But, with such a significant number, did the Belize Police Department’s dragnet capture everyone they wanted under the latest S.O.E.?
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“The police continue to be in search of a number of persons who are on the list and have not yet been located. We are doing our best to be able to locate those individuals. The press office will be issuing those wanted posters, hopefully by the end of day today where we will be seeking the public’s assistance in locating them.”
It’s been about twenty-four hours since the Government of Belize declared a state of emergency and already, there have been several complaints about the police department’s execution of this order. An S.O.E. is enacted during periods of heightened criminal activity that threatens citizen security. The S.O.E. permits police officers to target known gang members through a series of house raids, arrests and detentions. However, Monique Teck, a resident of Antelope Street, says that her boyfriend, Kurtis Lamb, has been picked up twice by officers during the S.O.E., despite him not having previous charges of being a member of a gang. She spoke with us today to explain her frustration with the process.
Voice of: Monique Teck
Voice of: Monique Teck, Partner of Detained
“Several times I go da the ombudsman, go make report, go make complaint against the department, and I get nothing done. Two states a bap, ney ker my gentlemen. When I make a report, nothing. Now Monday they come da my house seh they want he fi P.I. murder. Which P.I. murder? Who do murder? Weh kind of murder he do? Alright, nothing they can’t explain to you as to why they fi ker he ney just say P.I. murder. Gone da the police station, they say he wah spent wa forty-eight. When the forty-eight done, ten thirty, the police come and ney ker ah. I noh get no call, nothing as to why ney ker him da jail. I get call from a policeman weh know me and tell me, gyal, he said ney done ker up your bwai. Ih done deh da dih station. I think it really unfair because ney dih enable ney bwai. You understand me. The one weh dih do the schupidness, he noh dih send up but da dih innocent one.”
Britney Gordon
“So last time when he was taken during the last S.O.E., how long did it take for him to get released and did they ever tell you why he was taken?”
Monique Teck
“Ih mih tek wah month. Up to now, we no as to know why ney mih ker he none at all. Ney mih tell yo, we dih carry up everybody for S.O.E. due to the shooting and the different thing. What happened da Antelope Street? Nothing. The one there, back at Martins, ney dih let go ney. So how could you wah dih do your job and you dih half-step your job? You dih ker people neem dih do nothing. Ih really unfair. It’s frustrating. Really frustrating. I gone upstairs ah Racoon Street, gone mek a report gone mek wa formal report. Ney tell me my house da gang yaad. Which gang? Nobody neva yet get charge for being a member of a gang deh. If you check by bwai sheet, he neem got wa charge sheet. How come ney dih ker you for S.O.E. and you neem have wa gang charge.”
Belize will accede to three international conventions to strengthen the protection of children and the elderly. The three international conventions are the 2015 Inter-American Convention on Older Persons, the 1996 Convention on Child Protection, and the 2007 Convention on Child Support.
The Government of Belize issued a press release, stating that the decision follows the data from the 2022 census, indicating a significant increase in the elderly population.
The 2007 Convention on Child Support allows for child maintenance to be collected from parents, regardless of location. While the 1996 Convention on Child Protection strengthens cross-border efforts to safeguard children and enforces parental responsibilities.
The Cabinet’s decision will undergo the parliamentary process through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.
“These moves will promote protection across the country and act as another stepping stone on the path to fulfilling Plan Belize.”
(2 p.m. update) Meteorologists from the National Hurricane Center in Miami are closely monitoring two disturbances that could potentially develop into tropical cyclones.
Western Caribbean/Southwestern Gulf of Mexico:
The first disturbance is currently a tropical wave sweeping through the central Caribbean Sea at a brisk pace of twenty-five miles per hour. While shower activity remains disorganised, conditions are expected to become more favourable for gradual development over the weekend. There is a possibility that this system could intensify over the western Caribbean Sea or the southwestern Gulf of Mexico.
* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…10 percent.
* Formation chance through 7 days…low…20 percent.
Eastern Tropical Atlantic:
Meanwhile, a second tropical wave located southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands is also under scrutiny. This system is generating scattered showers and thunderstorms and has the potential to strengthen over the next few days. Forecasters indicate that a tropical depression could potentially form in the eastern tropical Atlantic by the end of the week or into the weekend as it moves westward at 15 to 20 mph.
* Formation chance through 48 hours…low…near 10 percent.
* Formation chance through 7 days…medium…40 percent.
As the world commemorates International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, today Belize is emphasizing the importance of investing in prevention efforts against drug abuse. The theme for this year is “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention.”
In a press release issued today, the National Drug Abuse Control Council (NDACC) under the Ministry of Health and Wellness said that it is “committed to preventing substance misuse through education, research, and community engagement. The goal is to create a nation where individuals and communities thrive, free from the harmful effects of substance misuse.”
The National Drug Abuse Control Council says it stands united with a firm call to prioritize prevention in the fight against substance misuse.
NDACC leads Belize in prevention efforts through school-based initiatives that educate youths on safe decision-making, community outreach promoting healthy environments, parental engagement to strengthen family communication, and ongoing research to refine effective strategies against substance misuse.
Police Commissioner Chester Williams told reporters a few minutes ago that a suspect is in custody following an alarming incident at his house in Belmopan last night. Williams’ house was shot up on Tuesday at approximately 9:19 p.m. While Commissioner Williams was fortunately not present, the brazen attack targeted his home, where his twenty-two-year-old son was at the time.
According to Williams, the suspect was identified after security footage was reviewed by investigators. The shooter was reportedly on a motorcycle. He drove by the house and shot at it from a distance with a.45 calibre firearm.
The suspect is a twenty-one-year-old male from Camalote Village, Cayo District. He is affiliated with one of the gangs in Roaring Creek Village.
The weapon and motorcycle used in the crime were recovered. ComPol Williams has taken security measures to keep his son safe.
Williams described the shooter as a “coward.” He said the shooter wanted to send a message. “If they think I am going to be intimidated, then they have the wrong man.”
Williams left the country on Tuesday to attend the UN Chiefs of Police conference in New York today.
The security guard found murdered this morning in Belize City has been identified. He is Kadeem Babb. Babb’s body was reportedly found in a security booth inside the Sadie Vernon High School compound.
The shooting occurred a stone’s throw away from the Mahogany Street police station.
