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Mayor Guerrero Secures 5 Additional Police for San Pedro

Only 15 hours after the public consultation meeting between our town leadership comprising of the police and residents of San Pedro, there is already good and positive news to report. Mayor Daniel Guerrero informed Ambergris Today that the Minister of National Security has immediately assigned five new police officers to be dispatched to San Pedro. This is an additional five besides the ten to be assigned to San Pedro Town in January of 2013.

Islanders demand action "NOW!" over the crime situation

Over the past few weeks, businesses as well as residents and visitors have been the targets of crime on the island. The incidents are rapidly becoming a major concern amongst islanders who hold a major stake in the tourism industry. Residents are beginning to fear that this may have a negative impact on our tourism dependent island and are calling on the police to "put more boots on the ground" and calling for the local elected authorities to "have the issue addressed promptly."

During a well attended town meeting held on Tuesday evening, Oct. 30th at the Rafael Angel Nuñez Auditorium, angry islanders had the opportunity to vent their frustrations about the crime situation on the island. "I have received cancellations from tourists and they are requesting their monies back because of the crime situation on this island… when I lose from this cancellation the tour guides lose, the tour companies lose, the restaurants lose, the community loses and the government loses from taxes," said an outspoken local business owner Nellie Gomez.

The panel consisted of the Officer Commanding San Pedro Police Formation Assistant Superintended of Police Viennie Robinson, Assistant Commissioner of Police and Commander of Eastern Division Police Formation, Elodio Aragon Jr, Commissioner of the Belize Police Department David Henderson, Minister of Tourism and Culture and Area Representative Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr and Mayor of San Pedro Daniel Guerrero. Elito Arceo, a tour operator on Ambergris Caye also explained to the panel that as a direct result of the crime situation on Ambergris Caye, a group of 30 students from a US university have cancelled coming to San Pedro Town. "We need to act now… we need a solution before worse happens," echoed each resident that went to voice their frustration.

The fact remains that the San Pedro Police Department has a formation of 34 paid officers to service an island 25 miles in length with a population of approximately 25,000. Of the 34 police officers, some work as relief personnel while other work normal hours as regular staff personnel during the day. On any given relief shift (three per day), there are only three police officers. In addition to the excessive workload faced by police officers on the island, they have to live on a very low salary starting at $428 fortnightly upon recruitment. A regular officer gets a salary between $500 to $600 fortnightly depending on qualifications and other merits received while on training. For an officer working on Ambergris Caye, they have to live in the police barracks that have been in a deplorable and dilapidated state for years, having to face water seepage from the floor and roof during the rainy season.

Despite low pay and substandard living conditions the police do their best to police the island. But that is no comfort for the island residents, especially those directly affected and they want the crime situation to be addressed "NOW."

Click here to read the rest of the article and see more photos in the San Pedro Sun

More training. Yes
Cops who are same family as the guy who is climbing in the window.No
Same rule all over Belize, and the reason why they rotate them so often.

more officers, poorly trained who don't know how to take a statement (which my wife experienced when we good robbed in february) aren't going to do much.

A magistrate on the island to hear tourist crime immediately and to quickly hear other cases needs to be a priority. As I mentioned in a previous post, we received notice Juoy 9 that DG who had broken in on us and our infant and three year old was being tried July 12. As the lear35 was in the shop, we couldn't make it down to put this guy away. With any reasonable notice, we would have spent our own money and come out of principle

Keep scaring away tourists, especially the loyal ones like me... and see how it looks.

Hi readers - much is afoot to address these issues and more.
Good news that GoB is listening - even better news that the Town Board has listened and put plans in action.
Let's not beat the dead horse - we're on a very good new track.
San Pedro is AWESOME.

I will be hosting a charity event for crime prevention and awareness in San Pedro on November 13th from 6pm-9pm at the Lions Den. 100% of the proceeds will go to the non-profit organization. I will be doing a zumbathon, which is registered with my company at zumba.com - We will have 3 hours of dance and fitness, raffles, and a speaker in regards to crime prevention to raise awareness so we can better protect our homes, ourselves, our children, and the beautiful island of Ambergris Caye. You can join my event on facebook which is listed under zumbathon in san pedro http://www.facebook.com/events/305914309508227/#!/events/305914309508227/
Ticket price is $10bz

That is so great Flower Child - there are so many ways to get involved. Thanks for making a fun event!