Commissioner of Police and senior commanders visit Santa Familia Village following civil unrest

By BBN Staff: Angry villagers from Santa Familia met with Commissioner of Police Chester Williams and other senior Commanders to discuss last night’s civil unrest in the village and the way forward.

Williams met with the villagers outside of Branch Mouth Stop and Shop, the store where Santa Familia resident, 29-year-old Jesse Escobar, was fatally shot by a fellow Belize Defense Force soldier on Sunday night.

The villagers had erected a memorial for Escobar adorned with candles, and came with signs bearing strong messages such as “We pay to you protect not kill us,” as they spoke with the Commissioner on what could be done to return the order to the village. Among the villagers present at the meeting was Escobar’s mother, who said that she is pleased that Williams has promised to give her “justice” which she believes should be no less than a murder charge for the soldier who took her son’s life.

Williams told the media that he had a productive meeting with the villagers, who have since pledged to stop burning tires and blocking roads. He stressed that the department will give every piece of evidence it has over to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, but that the ultimate decision on whether or not to charge for murder rests with the DPP.

“I emphasize the point that, from what we saw on the video, it is an unjustified shooting,” Williams said. “There is nothing that we can do or say to try and justify that and any right-thinking person would come to that conclusion.”

Williams pledged that the police will do its part to help the villagers get the justice that they seek.

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