As Belize’s interim Minister of Home Affairs Julius Espat moves forward with sweeping planned reforms for the Belize Police Department, he has turned to institutional memory to guide his policy making. In early July 2026, Espat convened a working lunch for a cohort of former police commissioners, bringing decades of on-the-ground experience together to act as an advisory brain trust to map out a clear path for the department’s future improvement.
However, one high-profile former top official was noticeably absent from the gathering: Chester Williams, the most recent police commissioner who now serves as a chief executive officer within the national government. Williams, who holds the record as the longest-serving commissioner in Belize’s history with more than six years leading the department, told reporters he only learned of the meeting after seeing media reports shared by contacts, and had never received a formal invitation.
When pressed by journalist Shane Williams on his exclusion from the meeting of former top police leaders, Williams stated he could not explain the snub, adding that he was open to the possibility it was simply an accidental oversight rather than an intentional exclusion. The former commissioner emphasized that he maintains a warm, professional relationship with Espat, who also oversees the Ministry of Infrastructure. Williams noted he regularly reaches out to Espat for support when needed, and has repeatedly made clear to the interim minister that he stands ready to contribute his expertise to police reform efforts whenever called upon.
“As a Belizean, my only priority is seeing the police department move forward in the right direction,” Williams said. “If Minister Espat needs to draw on my experience at any point during his time leading the Home Affairs Ministry, I am fully available to him.” The absence of such a tenured, knowledgeable former leader from the advisory meeting has drawn public attention, as Espat works to implement changes to one of the country’s core public security institutions.