“We’ve got this,” says police minister

Posted: Saturday, October 14, 2017. 1:24 pm CST.

By BBN Staff: Responding to the escalating level of violence in Belize for 2017, the Minister with responsibility for the police, Elodio Aragon Jr. has assured the public that police have the situation under control.

In an interview with Love FM, Aragon explained that the department understands what has been taking place with the recent murders, and has already started responding to the situation by increasing the number of patrols and officers deployed on the streets.

“We are working as best as we can to resolve the situation. I just want to reassure the public that we are on top of things,” Aragon said.

Aragon also added that he feels every murder is one-too-many and emphasized that police are working as diligently as possible in each case.

Since Colin Sutherland was fatally shot on January 1, Belize has seen a total of 115 murders for the year. There have been three murders in the past week, including the shooting death of 72-year-old taxi man Albert Cattouse.

With two and a half months to go, it is unclear whether or not murders in 2017 will surpass 2016’s total, 138. Last year murders were at a four year high, prompting former South Side Commander Chester Williams to step up gang mediation efforts.

Since Williams’ transfer to the head of the Professional Standards Branch in Belmopan, there has been an ongoing debate in the news and social media, as to whether his transfer and the subsequent change in policing methods by his successor Marco Vidal, has had a bearing on the level of violence being experienced in Belize City.

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