By Breaking Belize News Staff: Commissioner of Police Dr. Richard Rosado has defended the government’s restructuring of the Leadership Intervention Unit (LIU), rejecting suggestions that the programme was abruptly discontinued and that its suspension was responsible for the recent escalation in gang violence.
The issue was raised during Sunday’s emergency police briefing, where reporters questioned whether changes to the initiative had contributed to deteriorating security conditions.
Rosado explained that the LIU director had been informed approximately two months in advance that the programme would be assessed.
According to the Commissioner, that assessment identified deficiencies in the delivery and effectiveness of certain social intervention programmes.
Rosado maintained that the LIU itself had not been abolished and that only its temporary employment component had been discontinued.
He explained that the employment component was intended to serve as a transition between skills training and permanent employment or entrepreneurship, rather than provide indefinite financial support.
When questioned about whether participants had been adequately informed of the changes, Rosado acknowledged that this was a matter requiring further examination.
The Commissioner also rejected suggestions that the suspension of the employment programme had been established as the cause of the recent surge in violence.
During the discussion, National Security Minister Michel Chebat acknowledged that some funding associated with the LIU had been utilized to purchase equipment for the Police Department.
As previously reported by Breaking Belize News, the suspension of the LIU work programme in May affected 523 participants who had depended on the initiative for income.
The programme had reportedly been disbursing approximately $160,000 every two weeks to participants before its suspension.
Chebat said the government remains committed to intervention and mediation programmes, particularly for vulnerable young people.
He also announced plans for a new Second Chance Programme aimed at youths aged 15 to 23.
The post Police defend LIU restructuring amid questions over whether suspended programme contributed to gang violence appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: Commissioner of Police Dr. Richard Rosado has defended the government’s restructuring of the Leadership Intervention Unit (LIU), rejecting suggestions that the programme was abruptly discontinued and that its suspension was responsible for the recent escalation in gang violence. The issue was raised during Sunday’s emergency police briefing, where reporters questioned
The post Police defend LIU restructuring amid questions over whether suspended programme contributed to gang violence appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.