Moving right along, the media also asked PM Barrow about the situation with Steven Buckley. As has been widely reported, Buckley was wrongfully shot in the head in 2010 by a police officer on duty, and since then, he's not been able to work to provide for his family.
He received 2 letters from the KHMH demanding that he pay his medical bills, which according to him, the former Commissioner of Police pledged would be paid by the department.
Well, that hasn't happened as yet, and after his public outcries, the KHMH agreed to back off until the criminal matter of his shooting has been dealt with.
But going further than just paying his bills, there are some members of the public who believe that Buckley should be financially compensated by the Government of Belize.
After 3 years of dealing with the consequences of his injuries, the media asked Barrow about Buckley's plight. He told us that if all the facts are as they have been reported, he doesn't just deserve to have his bills cleared, he also deserves due compensation:
Mike Rudon - Channel 5 News
"At what point do you step in because the police, as far as I know, have accepted blame? I believe the guy who did it, the inspector, was charged and there has been no compensation. The Minister says they will investigate; the police say they will investigate..."
Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister of Belize
"Well then Mike, I will tell you now that you have, the media has put that to me, if that is the position, then I will step in because you are perfectly correct. Lord man, if this happened two years ago can we can't come to terms with compensating this man for the wanton destruction almost for his life, then something is wrong. That is not justice; that is not fair play. So I guarantee you that I will now look into this. Especially if the police man has been charged, it should only be a matter of agreeing on the level of compensation. Now, that is another thing, the lawyers will have to say what level is justified, but it would appear to me - if what you're telling me is accurate - that that can be the only issue, the quantum of compensation."
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