_{Prosecution Branch and Caye Caulker WPC giving back to the community}

by Charles Gladden

BELIZE CITY, Wed. Mar. 19, 2025

In honor of Women’s Month, which is observed globally in March, the women police officers within the Belize Police Department’s Eastern Division took part in a community service drive in different parts of Belize City.

On Wednesday, March 19, the female officers were distributed across different communities in the Eastern Division for a day of community upliftment.

The following are the community projects by location/precinct: San Pedro—beautifying Flamboyant Park (Coco Plum Street); Caye Caulker—removing sargassum from the beach; Eastern Division Headquarters—enhancing Armadillo Playground (Armadillo Street); Division One—cleaning up Neal Pen Road Ext. Basketball Court; Division Two—assisting a senior citizen by cleaning their yard (13th Street); GI3—visiting and supporting a children’s home; Ladyville—cleaning and painting the park in the Japan area; Hattieville Sub-Formation—visiting Golden Haven Rest Home for the Elderly.

Lastly, the Prosecution Branch fed the homeless in downtown Belize City.

“Our department prides [itself] for ensuring we look after the women who work with us,” said Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams.

He further mentioned that the department has almost 600 women in its ranks. The first class of women recruits joined the force in 1963, and there is a woman for every rank within the department, except for the highest position.

“That goes to show again that we are not a department that sees ourselves as a man’s job or a man’s department, but rather a diverse one; and we try to promote people based on their skills and job knowledge, as opposed to their gender. So, I am happy [with] the strides that we have made. During my tenure as Commissioner, I have ensured that every head station across the country has a woman either as the OC [Operating Commander] or a deputy, and again, that goes to show that we ensure that there is a representation of women at every head station as a country, and that goes a very long way in terms of boosting the morale of women. I can also say that we have never had so many,” Commissioner Williams remarked.