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PM Renews Commissioner Jeffries' Contract
posted (March 24, 2010)

In other news from the Prime Minister’s desk, Commissioner of Police Crispin Jeffries will be given a contract for another year as the top cop. The Prime Minister explained the thought process that went into the decision.

Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
“I have every intention of renewing it for a year.”

Jules Vasquez,
“Being skeptical and as unkind as one can be, I have to say you can’t be satisfied with how things are going in law and order which is his department.”

Hon. Dean Barrow,
“There are huge problems but I don’t know the problems are his fault in the same way that I don’t know the problems are the Minister’s fault. I believe that we have to do better, there is no option, and I believe that Jeffries is very much in tune with the government’s requirement, demand, that better be done and I don’t think getting a little bit ahead of things that more than another year would be required to in fact ensure that a successor and the right successor is found.”

Jules Vasquez,
“Would you at least concede that on any appraisal of have things worsened or have they improved in his one year at the helm it would seem from an outsider perspective that at least on a perceptual basis, not statistical because he is the master of that game, but on a perceptual basis things have worsened and the community’s sense of safety and law and order, the upholding of law and order has deteriorated.”

Hon. Dean Barrow,
“But he can point to the statistics. The statistics are undeniably so the discount between the statistics and the perception is something we have to contend with and I am not going to suggest that the perception you articulated so well is not a fact but I would say that Jeffries is as aware of that as I am. All of us are determined to do better, all of us are committed to improving the perception. You know that there are measures that I am taking to try and achieve that result. It is not just a matter of hot air, it is not just a matter of mouthing pieties, and I think that Mr. Jeffries is needed for another year to help us preside over the reforms we are trying to effect.”

And if Jeffries is staying, what about his Minister, Carlos Perdomo? There have been howls of protest calling for Perdomo’s removal and today the Prime Minister conceded that after the village council elections in June – he will reconfigure his Cabinet.

Jules Vasquez,
“Will there be a shuffle after the village council elections which finish first week in June?”

Hon. Dean Barrow,
“I don’t know if there will be a shuffle. There will certainly be anxious thought given to one. I’ve said, it is not secret, I have said it to the Cabinet, that I think we would be just at around approaching the halfway point and I think that in those circumstances, it would be useful to look at the current fit that we have and to see if there can be any improvements so certainly it is a matter that will be very much in my mind.”

Jules Vasquez,
“Certainly there have been the most calls for the head of the Minister of National Security.”

Hon. Dean Barrow,
“As one would expect because of the law and order situation. Again I don’t know that that is his fault. In fact I am certain it is not his fault and I am also certain that he has done his best. But again it is necessary at a certain juncture for me to look at the entire picture and to see if there are ways in which we can improve the current lineup.”

Later on in the newscast, you’ll hear the Prime Minister discuss the fate of President of the University of Belize Santos Mahung.

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