Police - Greater Belize Media

Caye Caulker JPs Demand Action Over Police Brutality

The Caye Caulker branch of the Justice of the Peace Association is calling for urgent national intervention following what they describe as a disturbing pattern of police violence on the island. In a strongly worded release, the group condemned years of alleged abuse by local officers, highlighted by the recent death of a young resident. Justice of the Peace Javier Novelo stated that officers who act as aggressors “forfeit their right to serve,” and called for immediate removal of those with violent histories. The association is demanding an independent investigation, officer reassignment, mandatory retraining, and full judicial accountability. Andrew Novelo, the individual seen in the video being roughed up by Caye Caulker police, is the grandson of Javier Novelo. The Justice of the Peace recounted part of the incident, which involved also a traffic warden, with News Five.

On the phone: Javier Novelo, Justice of the Peace

“So he’s asking and continues to ask the warden, “What have I done wrong? Why did you take my golf cart?” And no one could give him any answers and the male warden walked up to him and chest bumped him and told him, “What yoh gwein do about it?” And he is basically saying, “All I want is answers, tell me why you took the golf cart and if I have committed an offense, give me my ticket and let me go on my way.” He’s all hyped up and they’re exchanging words right there and they could not give him an answer so he decided to take the cart and he was driving out of the compound. He was bringing the golf cart back home when the police were coming and the male warden running out, shouting, “That’s him, that’s him. Stop him!” So he immediately stopped, came out of the cart and put his hands up. The officer just came to him, grabbed him in the sweatshirt that he had on, actually ripped it, and punched him, threw him on the golf cart. He then started questioning them, “Why are you beating me? What did I do? Explain to me why you are beating me and coming to me in this aggressive way. And he’s right there, back and forth with the officers, and basically telling him to shut up and to shut up and the other officer that was there from behind, put him in a headlock. He said it was a very aggressive headlock, that he felt his air going, so he began tapping the officer on the arm and letting him know that he felt his throat burning and tapping him so that they could release him. He was held in that headlock until they put handcuffs on him. They put him back on the golf cart and he was asking, what was happening. Tell me. He’s all hyped up, as anyone would be. You’re trying to get answers and no answers. They can’t tell you why they took your golf cart, what is the reason and no answer is given. They put him and had him on the cart there and the officer just slapped him really hard. You can hear it in the video and he was taken to the police station. This is all the way they’re taking him there, they’re hitting him on the head, on the face.”

The Caye Caulker Justice of the Peace Association says it stands with the Caye Caulker Village Council and pledges to support victims through legal and advocacy channels.

Caye Caulker Council Demands Justice Amid Rising Police Abuse

The following story is from Caye Caulker, where the newly re-elected village council has issued a powerful and emotional press release addressing growing concerns about police conduct on the island. In a statement released earlier today, the Caye Caulker Village Council expressed deep concern over what they describe as a ‘slowly escalating level of violence and abuse of authority’ by local police officers, particularly toward the island’s youth. The Council emphasized that law enforcement should be a shield for all citizens, not just a select few. The release recalls a troubling pattern, cycles of abuse that have, tragically, ended in the deaths of young men from the community. A decade ago, a similar incident sparked national outrage. Now, the council is calling for action once again, urging that this latest tragedy be met not with retaliation, but with resolve. “We cannot remain committed against violence if we respond with violence,” the council stated. Instead, they are advocating for accountability, de-escalation, and a renewed focus on what community policing should truly mean, protection for every citizen, regardless of background or behavior. It leaves no room for doubt: breaking the law should not mean forfeiting one’s right to life, safety, or dignity. The council is urging that officers who serve must do so with integrity, restraint, and a commitment to justice, not brutality. The statement ends with a reminder that wearing a badge is not just a job, it’s a solemn duty to uphold the law to the highest standard. And in these difficult times, they are calling on the community to stand together, to demand better, and to ensure that Caye Caulker remains a safe haven for all. We’ll continue to follow this story closely and bring you updates as they unfold.

Kareem Musa Touts ‘Historic Gains’ in Policing

Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa says the past year has brought what he calls “historic gains”—from high-tech upgrades and station renovations to mental health support for officers and specialized training to tackle modern threats like cybercrime and human trafficking. But what do these changes mean for you, your community, and the future of policing in Belize?

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs

“Over the past year, the Belize Police Department has made historic gains in crime prevention, modernization and community engagement, gains you are now entrusted to uphold and build upon. In the area of infrastructure and service delivery modernization, we have renovated over fifteen police stations and substations countrywide, including Santa Cruz, Orange Walk, Mesopotamia and Sand Hill. With the support of the US Embassy, we installed interview recording systems in six major investigative hubs, bringing transparency and accountability to key moments in case development. And soon, we will launch the police records management information systems, a digital backbone that will modernize how we track crime and manage case data across Belize. In terms of our officer wellness and professional development, we opened the Lotus Center, Belize’s first dedicated mental health facility for police officers, a space where those who protect others can be supported themselves. The department also conducted forty-four specialized training sessions, from financial crime and fraud, to narcotics detection, human trafficking prevention and cybercrime and forensics, ensuring that officers are prepared for today’s evolving criminal landscape.”

Senior Cop Gets $70K Annually to Be Advisor to CEO

A senior police officer, Aaron Guzman, is set to earn seventy thousand dollars a year, plus a government vehicle, for serving as an advisor to the C.E.O. of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The deal is raising eyebrows, especially as public scrutiny over government spending grows louder. Critics are asking: Is this a smart use of taxpayer money, or just another example of questionable government contracts? But Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa says there’s nothing unusual here. According to him, these kinds of contracts are standard practice across ministries.

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs

“It is not anything new. These government contracts exist in all ministries. Obviously the CEO comes from an administrative background, not a policing background. So having the type of advice and council from a senior like Aaron Guzman has been very valuable to the ministry and valuable to the CEO in the conduct of her duties.”

Still, the question remains: Should taxpayers be footing the bill for this kind of advisory role? And if it’s so common, should there be more transparency about how these contracts are awarded and evaluated?

Squad 98 Officially Completes Police Recruit Training

It was a proud and emotional day at the Police Training Academy as two hundred and sixteen fresh-faced recruits officially marched into the ranks of law enforcement. That’s right, Squad 98 has completed their training, and the cheers from family and friends filled the air as they celebrated this major milestone. But here’s what really stood out, a significant number of these new officers are women, marking a powerful shift in the makeup of our police force. We caught up with Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa at the passing out ceremony to hear what this means for the future of policing in Belize.

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs

“This set of graduates form part of squad ninety-eight which proudly includes fifty-two women police officers graduating today. Over the last few years we have had a major adjustment in the curriculum, very heavy emphasis on the human rights aspect of policing, community policing, use of technology as a tool in fighting crime. These officers are freshly minted, two hundred and sixteen of them and they will now make up a total of close to three thousand police officer in the Belize Police Department.”

Reporter

“How have you seen the culture change with the last two squads. They were trained similarly with human rights being at the forefront.”

Kareem Musa

“Funny enough I was having this discussion with one of our counterparts, a member of the US Embassy team and he is telling that since 2020 he has seen a dramatic shift in the style of policing and the level of trust the Belizean people have in the Belize Police Department. Obviously it is not going to be perfect, but we can see the strides that have been made and the confidence being restored by the public.”