| In other security news, we asked about the swarm of CCTV cameras we've seen going up across the city. It's part of the Belize Integrated Security Project—a multi-million-dollar, CABEI-funded initiative.
We asked the CEO about it:
Francis Usher, CEO, Ministry of National Security
"The CCTV cameras have been acquired, as I know it, through the CABEI funds. I know that they're... I don't have the exact number of cameras, but I do know that they were placed at strategic areas—strategic checkpoints along the way—so that we can have better situational awareness. I do know that Minister Chebat and his team of national security advisors, including myself and the service chiefs, we've discussed various different options for placing additional cameras, if necessary. But ultimately, it's to have a better grasp, a better situational awareness of what's going on, so that our police officers, our soldiers, our sailors know how to best respond to the threat."
Jaleeza Roberts
"These cameras, what law enables this?"
Francis Usher, CEO, Ministry of National Security
"I can get the... so I think that if you are using... so I would assume there are two aspects of the cameras. One is an aspect of the—I guess the chain of custody, if you want to call it—using it as evidence. And there is the aspect of using it as a potential breach, which I don't believe it is, of privacy. Both of these things have been looked at extensively. I can get the exact verbiage or law that it's being utilized under. But I do know that both of those things were taken into consideration when rolling out this camera system."
Jaleeza Roberts
"We know that we had seen in 2024 under the Integral Security Programs, the cameras as well, but these ones are lower and more plentiful. Can you discuss the mounting of the cameras?"
Francis Usher, CEO, Ministry of National Security
"So the experts, the team of international experts, actually advised that the height of the camera has to do with the dexterity—not the dexterity, but the clarity of the video footage and the ability to get a better image or a better video footage of what exactly is happening. And so there was some science that indicated the better height to put it at. So that's why they went that route."
In June, we saw a contract award for the Acquisition, Installation, and Commissioning of a Camera Network and 911 Emergency Response System Expansion for the Belize Police Department valued at $9.75 million. |
