By Belize Live News Staff: The Belize Police Department on Wednesday refuted claims made by Opposition Leader Moses Barrow, who alleged during his State of the Nation response that the country’s murder rate had increased by 40%. In a press release, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams stated that Barrow’s figures were inaccurate and contradicted by official crime data, which shows a significant reduction in major crimes compared to the same period last year.
Williams emphasized that the Belize Police Department had achieved a 54% drop in major crimes, including murder, robbery, burglary, and theft. According to the Commissioner, the number of murders had actually decreased slightly, down 1.52%, from 66 to 65. He further noted that other serious crimes such as robbery and burglary had also seen marked reductions, while theft cases had similarly declined. Although there were small increases in categories such as unlawful sexual intercourse (USI) and rape, Williams maintained that the overall crime situation had improved.
The Commissioner also addressed Barrow’s comments regarding the death of Daniel Caal, who recently died while in police custody. Barrow had described the incident as a murder, but Williams argued that this assertion was not only false but also reckless, given that Barrow had been informed of the post-mortem results, which did not support his statement.
Williams criticized Barrow for using Caal’s death as a political tool, labeling the opposition leader’s comments as “misleading” and “irresponsible.” He expressed sympathy for Caal’s family while reiterating that the circumstances surrounding the death did not point to murder, as Barrow had claimed.
In addition to defending the department’s handling of crime and public safety, Williams highlighted the police force’s ongoing efforts to improve officer morale. These efforts include the promotion of more than 800 officers, the awarding of over 600 for long service and good conduct, the improvement of police station facilities, and the distribution of land to over 400 officers through collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources.
Despite the challenges of fighting crime, Williams assured the public that the Belize Police Department remains committed to its mission. He urged the public to continue cooperating with law enforcement, stressing that addressing crime is a shared responsibility.
“Crime is everyone’s problem. The only way we can win is by working together,” Williams said.
