In September of 2014, after a very violent 24-hour span which saw 4 murders, Prime Minister Dean Barrow held a press conference where he said that he didn't see why police were always running to the DPP for advice. He urged police to lay charges when they had evidence to speed things along. And that wasn't just any old urging; he is, after all, the Prime Minister, a former Attorney General and a ranking Senior Counsel. And so six days later, the police senior command sent out a directive telling commanders, quote: "The Practice of consulting the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions as to whether to charge a person for murder or any other crime must cease forthwith."
Well, newly promoted Assistant Commissioner of police and trained attorney Chester Williams said he never got the memo and he consults with the DPP religiously:...
ACP Chester Williams, OC - Southside ED
"Even though I am an attorney I consult with the DPP on many issues. I just spoke to her this morning before you arrived on an issue. Myself and the DPP have a very cordial and respectful relationship. We communicate every so often when the need arises. I don't know about the memo. I have not seen it. I don't know if it happened before I came. I don't know. But like I said I have a respectful relationship with the DPP. Her office is one that is constitutionally created. She has certain responsibilities as the DPP and as an officer of the Court I respect her constitutional duties and authority and I am not going to do anything to circumvent those responsibilities."
Jules Vasquez
"You consult as standard procedure."
ACP Chester Williams, OC - Southside ED
"I consult not merely standard procedures, but when the need arise for me to consult I do."
Williams has been promoted to Assistant Commissioner retroactive to July of last year. He was on track to become an ACP from around 2009 - but at the time he was blacklisted as a PUP friendly cop.
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