The country’s top police officer is expected to enforce the law without fear, favor or political influence. But with Michel Chebat now overseeing the police and defense forces, the opposition is questioning whether Commissioner Richard Rosado can maintain not only his independence, but the public appearance of political neutrality. UDP representatives point to Rosado’s reported activities in Cayo North during the general election, along with allegations surrounding proxy voting, as reasons for concern. Shane Williams reports.
Shane Williams, Reporting
It was a confrontation that quickly went viral. In 2021, Hamid Awe, then the personal driver of Minister Michel Chebat, confronted officers at the San Ignacio Police Station after police detained his son. In the video, Awe threatened the officers with consequences over their handling of the incident. Chebat initially fired him, calling the behavior unacceptable, but later reduced that punishment to a suspension.
Michel Chebat
Michel Chebat, Minister of Health and Wellness (File: March 27, 2021)
“It’s an unfortunate situation. As a member of cabinet and as a minister, I cannot support the behaviour, but as a father, I understand Mister Awe’s reaction. Mister Awe was reacting to what he felt was his son being brutalised by the police. And so I saw his anger, I saw his fear and so as a father, I understand why he reacted the way he reacted. However, as a citizen of this country, we must always remember that we have to respect the police and so unfortunate in all the circumstance.”
Five years later, Chebat is no longer simply a cabinet minister commenting on police conduct. He is now the minister responsible for the country’s police and defense forces, while Awe remains one of his prominent political operatives. But the opposition says another relationship deserves closer scrutiny: the connection between Chebat and Commissioner of Police Richard Rosado. UDP representatives allege that Rosado was active in Cayo North on election day but relied on a PUP affiliate to vote by proxy for him and his son, raising questions about his political ties to the minister he now answers to.
Alberto August
Alberto August, Campaign Manager, UDP San Ignacio
“What I can tell you is that on election day, he was right out there. Yet, he allowed an operative of the PUP to vote for him and his son, who were both out there by way of proxy. And you know when you give a proxy to a person, especially in this case, the commissioner, one of the, the mother of one of the operatives of the PUP voted for him. That is to show your candidate without the shadow of any doubt that you voted for them. Man, he was out there, and if he’s working, he can go to the head of the line. He’s the Commissioner of Police. He can go to the head of the line and cast his ballot. It will take him no time.”
Rosado commands the Belize Police Department, while Chebat now serves as his political minister. For the UDP, the concern is not simply how Rosado voted, but whether his reported election-day activities could create the impression that the country’s highest-ranking police officer has entered partisan territory.
Dr. Omar Figueroa
Dr. Omar Figueroa, Former Area Representative, Cayo North
“It is a bit concerning to everyone when the impression is created that perhaps the, the highest-ranking police officer has taken sides, right?”
The opposition is also pointing to a separate proxy-voting allegation from the election. Former Cayo North Area Representative Dr. Omar Figueroa claims a voter arrived at the polling station and was told that someone had already voted on his behalf. Figueroa says the man was neither a police officer nor a public officer, raising questions about how a proxy vote was allegedly authorized in his name.
Dr. Omar Figueroa
“A gentleman, gentleman went to vote and he was denied his right to vote. He was essentially told, ‘You cannot vote, that you voted by proxy earlier this morning.’ The man in question was not a police officer. He was not a public officer. Yet a proxy was voted on his behalf. What’s scary is that it appears that the proxy claimed that this man was a police officer when he was not. And for a police officer to submit a proxy, it would have to be signed by a senior ranking police officer and by, um, someone from Election and Boundaries. So it raises some legitimate concerns about the extent of this type of organized fraud.”
No evidence presented in this report establishes political interference by Chebat or wrongdoing by Commissioner Rosado, and the allegations surrounding the proxy votes remain claims from the opposition. But the UDP argues that the matter ultimately comes down to public confidence: can the men and women responsible for enforcing the law operate free from political pressure, and can the commissioner convince the public that his decisions remain independent? Rosado has previously rejected suggestions that politicians interfere in police matters. Shane Williams for News Five.
Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.
Watch the Full Newscast Here:
