CJ grants permission for writ of mandamus

Allen Whylie
(Commissioner of Police)

AARON HUMES Reporting: Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie is to appear before the Chief Justice on Friday after he this morning granted permission for Leader of the People’s United Party (PUP) Francis Fonseca to apply for Writ of Mandamus against him.

The PUP went to the Supreme Court earlier this month seeking to have that body force the Commissioner of Police to investigate and if necessary arrest former Minister of State Elvin Penner for alleged violations of Belize’s Passport and Nationality Acts.

PUP leader Francis Fonseca sent Whylie a letter giving him a week to move to investigate Penner; but that letter was ignored. Today’s decision by the Chief Justice gave the PUP until 4 pm on Wednesday to file official documents.

The Commissioner of Police is to be served with the notice on Thursday, and Whylie is to present himself for a hearing at 10 am on Friday before the Honorable the Chief Justice.

Speaking outside court, Fonseca says the PUP really had no other choice, calling it a “sad day” for Belizean justice as they were forced to have the court make the Commissioner act, rather than him doing so himself.

This, Fonseca said, is their last option after many efforts to see the matter investigated at all levels – efforts, he reminded, that have support from a majority of the population.

But why all the foot-dragging? Fonseca says the party believes that the UDP is trying to hide evidence of other Ministers’ and favorites’ alleged involvement.

The Commissioner has steadfastly refused public comment on his actions.

The Prime Minister has suggested that those concerned should pursue the case privately as Penner at this point is not known to have committed any criminal wrongdoing.

Fonseca today called that foolish, saying it is a matter to be investigated and it is up to the authorities to carry on from this.

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