Dear Editor,

For a second time in six months, the residents of San Ignacio, Santa Elena and the surrounding villages find themselves shorted by the Commissioner of Police and the Ministry of National Security.

According to the latest information, Senior Superintendent Chester Williams’ tour of command at the Cayo Police Formation ends tonight. SS Chester Williams, with the support of the good men and women of the SI/SE police station, has done a commendable job for the residents of the Twin Towns and surrounding villages. He will be missed, but we wish him well, and we hope that the Twin Towns could have him working with our communities again at some future time. God speed, Chester, and kudos to you!

The Commissioner of Police, this morning at a handing over ceremony, made it known that the SI/SE Police Formation will temporarily be under the command of Inspector Reyes with support from Assistant Superintendent Moody. Mr. Moody, who was highly recommended for the post by none other than his former Commanding Officer, SS Chester Williams, is stationed at Benque. The Commissioner of Police revealed that he has not yet decided on whom SS Chester Williams’ replacement will be, although he has someone in mind.

The People’s Coalition of Cayo (PCC), and all else, have great respect for, and hold Inspector Reyes in very high esteem. Under his watch as an investigator, the SI/SE police have been credited with cracking some very difficult cases. As a community, SI/SE is grateful to have Inspector Reyes. He is a great police officer. Stretched too thinly, however, any great police officer could become a poor one. Not of his own making, but from being overworked, and overwhelmed. This is our fear indeed for any officer serving in the SI/SE formation.

As of the date of posting SS Williams to SI/SE back in May, the Commissioner of Police, as well as the relevant officials in the Ministry of National Security, were aware of the fact he had to return to school in early September. The PCC wrote a letter to the Commissioner of Police in the first week of August expressing concern that, as at the date of writing, the PCC knew of no appointment to fill the imminent vacancy. The letter read in part:

“Senior Superintendent Williams is scheduled to return to his studies in Barbados in about four weeks. The PCC is, to date, unaware of any assignment to fill the imminent vacancy. The PCC is concerned that, if a comparable replacement ‘manager’ is not assigned before Mr. Williams leaves, the progress and programs currently in place will either lose momentum or start falling apart. It is ‘best practice’ to do what it takes for any transition between managers to be as smooth and seamless as possible. The PCC hopes that such would happen in SI/SE this time around.

“The PCC hopes that your immediate action to make a comparable assignment will stave off an impending management vacuum in the SI/SE formation, and thereby not deny the citizens of the improving peace of mind and tranquility that are on the rise in our communities.”

The letter was copied to the Mayor of San Ignacio and Santa Elena, all three Area Representatives (Hon. Rene Montero, Hon. Elvin Penner, Hon. Joseph Mahmud), and the CEO, Ministry of National Security. The PCC never got an acknowledgement from any of the addressees.

The communities of San Ignacio and Santa Elena and the surrounding villages, through the herculean efforts of the SS Chester Williams, supported by an admirable cadre of police officers and staff at the SI/SE police formation, and a no-nonsense magistrate, in the person of Ms. Nardia Morgan, have seen tremendous strides made in the right direction fighting crime. SI/SE and the surrounding villages have seen an unprecedented reduction in serious crimes, such as murder, burglaries, aggravated burglaries, etc. We have seen known criminals have their activities leashed; difficult crimes cracked; enforcement of “Quality of Life” laws. In recent times, the communities of SI/SE have never seen the high level and quality of police/community relation that we currently enjoy. A previously unheard of number of fourteen neighborhood watches have been organized and are functioning; assisting the police to keep our communities safer.

It is in the communities’ best interest to hold on to the gains we have made, and improve on them going forward. Shame on us if we allow any, worse all, of the progress we have made to regress or fall apart leading back to the days of frequent robbing, home invasions, shooting and looting. Speak up and let those in the “service of the public”, those who should be making good decisions in the best interest of “we the people,” know that we are very concerned, that we expect better, and are willing to make our voices heard.

San Ignacio, September 5, 2012
People’s Coalition of Cayo