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Beyond tackling crime, Interim Minister of Home Affairs Julius Espat says another major challenge facing Belize’s security forces is the need to properly prepare the next generation of leaders within the Belize Police Department. Speaking during an extended interview with our newsroom, Espat said succession planning has become a serious concern, not only within the police department but across several areas of government. He stressed that younger officers must be given meaningful opportunities to demonstrate their leadership abilities if the organization is to remain strong in the years ahead.
Julius Espat, Minister of Home Affairs: “We cannot solve the problems in three months. We don’t have a magic one. But we can try to start lighting a spark.”
Reporter: Let’s see for argument’s sake, it’s longer than three months. Is that something you’re willing to accept?
ACP Hilberto Romero, Officer Commanding Eastern Division: “Talk to me after three months.”
Reporter: Because you might actually do such an excellent job that they might not want to remove you from there.
ACP Hilberto Romero, Officer Commanding Eastern Division: “We’re not getting younger. We have to be joined by people that have more energy. The only way it works is if you include the youths. And that’s where a lot of the frustration and the lower morale comes to. That the younger ones that are putting a lot of energy they feel that they’re not getting promoted because just because. I’ve spoken to a guy that’s a regular police for the last 30 years and he has shown me all his credentials and all the training he gets, and he’s still at the same spot. We had the same problem in the Ministry of Infrastructure and I used to sit down with the AO and say “AO why don’t you look out for each other?” He said “So what do you mean?” I said “I see this full up with people, applying for promotion or recommendation and the desk is like 10 feet high and it doesn’t come down. Why is it that you all don’t pay attention to the people within the public service that you all are responsible to make sure that if they deserve a recommendation, they get it?” And about a year after I went into his office and the file was pretty low. And you felt the difference. You felt that people, they felt that they were a part of the movement. And hopefully we can apply that same concept and hopefully it lights a spark. All you could do is light a spark and try.”
Espat’s comments come amid recent criticism over the decision to retain three senior police officers beyond the mandatory retirement age on contractual appointments rather than promoting officers waiting in the ranks. While acknowledging the experience and institutional knowledge veteran officers possess, the minister questioned whether repeatedly extending contracts is the best long-term approach. He argued that every organization must eventually pass the baton, noting that leadership transitions are necessary to develop capable successors and ensure continuity within the department.
ACP Hilberto Romero, Officer Commanding Eastern Division: “I’ve heard it many times since I got appointed and before, but more so now. We will look at it. You have to promote the younger ones. You have to give them a chance. You won’t be here all the time and I won’t be here all the time and that’s what’s lacking. It’s lacking in politics. It’s lacking in governance. It’s lacking in our society. We don’t spend enough time mentoring our youths. The crime situation is a product of that. We as a society have abandoned the youth to a certain extent and then the gangs have decided that they will take over the leadership role for them and that’s what’s happening. And so we have to give love to our youth. We have to give them attention.”
Minister Espat has been given an initial three months to hold over the Ministry of Home Affairs.
English (US) ·