Photo: Chester Williams, Commissioner
of Police
by Charles Gladden
BELIZE CITY, Wed. Apr. 26, 2023
The Eruptions Nightclub, which is located at Mile 11 ½ on the Philip Goldson Highway in Ladyville, Belize District, was in the news last week, not for a good reason as it was announced that all members of the Belize Defence Force (BDF) are prohibited from entering the establishment. To make matters worse, Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams declared in an interview last week with the local media that police officers are also banned from the establishment.
Eruptions Nightclub was in the news last year when a 17-year-old female was reportedly raped while inside the establishment. The proprietors were charged with admitting a minor, an individual under the age of 18 into the premises. In respect to the recent decision to ban BDF and Police personnel from Eruptions, an allegation was made that the owner of the club, or some relative had been involved in human trafficking.
The owner of the club, Hector Choj, has issued a statement on social media, denying involvement with any such deeds. “I have been in the nightclub business from the year 2010 until present, and I have never been brought before the court to be convicted or charged for human trafficking. Therefore, the false statement that was made…is reckless and highly defamatory, with no evidence, and has caused me to suffer reputational harm as the owner, [and] individuals associated with me, including my family, and constitute tortious interference and harm to my establishment,” the statement said.
The statement continued: “… we have evidence to prove that the statements made contain serious, untrue, and highly defamatory comments towards myself and individuals related to me; some of which contain malicious falsehood.”
The proprietors of the club have reportedly challenged ComPol Williams to prove the allegation or they will be seeking legal action. When the proprietors of Eruptions Nightclub appeared in court to defend the 2022 charge of admitting a minor into their establishment, they were represented by attorneys Richard Bradley and Norman Rodriguez.