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Police Minister John Saldivar welcomed Whylie - and pointed to the tough job ahead:..

Hon. John Saldivar - Minister of Nat'l Security
"We must re-align our human resources to provide us with the best possible mix in order to ensure continuous growth. Today we install a new leader for the police department; Deputy Commissioner Whylie. I have the utmost trust and tremendous vote of confidence in you. I expect that under your leadership that performance will exceed expectations and that you will hold with the standards of excellence that are the hallmark of the core values of the Belize Police Department."

Allen Whylie - commissioner of police
"We are challenged with the issue of crime countrywide but in particular in Belize City. I want to tell you that don't despair, I am committed - the leadership is committed, the government is committed to make the necessary change that the citizenry across this country and in particular Belize City can really enjoy the level of safety and security that they deserve and I will work tirelessly - the seniors officers and the members of this police department will work tirelessly."

"Although I have reach the pinnacle I am not satisfied because I know that we can do better and we will be doing better and I want to assure you that I have already directed my officers that each and every police officer have got to see themselves as a community oriented officer and we need to move from just talking that philosophy to actually implementing and we are putting plans in place, we've had a number of meetings and very shortly we will be making public in terms of some of the changes we will be doing in terms of the type of policing we will be doing in particular in Belize City. We cannot continue to maintain the same status quo and expect to have different results, so changes will be made. We will have setbacks but I ask the citizenry not to lose hope. I am committed and I am dedicated."

Saldivar also spoke of hundreds of new surveillance cameras that he handed over to the Department on Tuesday.

Hon. John Saldivar - Minister of Nat'l Security
"Today I was able to pass over to the IT Department of the Belize Police Department 320 cameras that will show the way in the new and modern Police Department. Those cameras will be installed in a pilot area of Belize City, and we expect that they will contribute greatly to our efforts to monitor the criminals on the street."

Hopefully these cameras can record - as we now know the one on George Street did not. Saldivar also discussed weaknesses of the Department and plans to reform wayward youth:..

Hon. John Saldivar - Minister of Nat'l Security
"I believe we have become deficient is in our investigation efforts, in our prosecution efforts, and certainly in our penal system that should be punishing those who commit crimes against our society."

"We have therefore resolved to set up a new corrective institution at the Mountain Pine Ridge to be run by the Belize Defence Force. That institution is now ready to accept its first inmates."