Police Commissioner reassures public after “flareup” of violence on City’s streets

Published by BBNTEAM at January 13, 2024

Posted: Saturday, January 13, 2024. 12:27 pm CST.

By Aaron Humes: Any feel-good aspirations in the wake of 2023’s successes crime-wise threaten to recede just 12 days into 2024, as approaching a holiday weekend one man is dead, five others including two women injured, and residents are once again on edge.

Shemar Smith, Joseph Leslie, and Shane Nolberto were all targeted in ambush-style shootings on Iguana Street, Antelope Street Extension, and Baymen Avenue respectively, while Jose Matus was coldly executed in the Fabers Road Extension area.

On Friday afternoon Commissioner of Police Chester Williams was on the scene of the Matus incident, having been called away from rehearsals for the opening of the Legal Year. He told KREM News’ Marisol Amaya that Police senior command in Eastern Division is already hot on the trail of those causing the violence: “We do have a flare-up currently and we met this morning to see how we can address the issue and the police will be doing what needs to be done to get control of the situation. I am not going to disclose what we are going to do, but I can assure the Belizean people that we are looking at the issue and we are going to deal with it.”

He added in respect of plans for policing the forthcoming holiday weekend: “I can assure the Belizean people and particularly the residents of Belize City that the police will be doing what needs to be done to make sure the city is safe for the holidays.”

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