A press release, sent just over an hour ago, says quote, "The Ministry…views with great serious the arrest and charg(ing) of Melvin Hewlett.. with drug trafficking… This is because the nature of the charge is contrary to the higher purposes of education and in the interests of professionalism." End Quote.

In that same breath, the Ministry says that it "recognizes and upholds the principle that a person is innocent until proven guilty after due process. The Ministry is also calling for this case to be dealt with in a transparent manner to ensure that justice is served, quote, "for the sake of the accused, and for the sake of the higher purposes (of) education and the interests of the profession". End Quote.

The release also reminds that the Managing Authority of Wesley may choose to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Hewlett and place him on interdiction with half pay by seeking the approval of the Teaching Services Commission.

The Principal of Wesley has refused to give any comment or information. The President of the Methodist Conference in Belize has not contacted us, since yesterday when we visited his office and found out that he had been out

As we reported last night, the GSU busted a small time drug peddler who offered to lead them to his main supplier in exchange for some leniency with the criminal charges he would face.

Last Week Friday, just before midday, a team of officers followed this informant to the Wesley College compound. They observed him making an exchange with Hewlett, who had been identified as this main supplier. They closed in to make an arrest, and that's when, according to the GSU, he threw a piece of crumpled white paper into the Wesley College Compound. The officers detained him, and retrieved the paper and found 2 bags containing 14 grams of suspected crack cocaine.