Amid growing public debate over political influence over law enforcement, Belize’s National Security Minister Michel Chebat has pushed back against critics who question the appropriateness of his long-standing relationship with Police Commissioner Dr. Richard Rosado, stressing that their connection remains strictly professional. Prime Minister has stated publicly that he sees no issues with the relationship between the two top law enforcement officials, but concerns about potential blurred boundaries between political leadership and policing have persisted since Chebat took office. At a time when public demand for police department independence remains at a fever pitch, these lingering questions have put the relationship under a national media microscope. News Five’s Shane Williams pressed Chebat on the swirling rumors and allegations, including claims that the commissioner serves on Chebat’s constituency political committee.
Chebat addressed the allegations head-on during the interview, refuting the claims of an inappropriate relationship as far from the truth. The minister, who worked as an attorney for 27 years before entering politics, explained that his relationship with Rosado dates back to the mid-2010s, when both men were based in the Saint Ignacio area. “Back then, around 2015 or 2016 if I remember correctly, the current commissioner was the officer in charge of the Saint Ignacio district,” Chebat explained. “As a practicing lawyer, I had to liaise with him regularly for professional reasons, and we developed a professional relationship from that.”
Chebat went on to frame the current dynamic between himself and the commissioner as productive and collaborative. “It’s a good relationship, we work very well together,” he said. “The commissioner is an extremely knowledgeable law enforcement professional, and he provides strong direction for the ministry. My role is to ensure alignment between the government’s policy goals for the police department and the work the commissioner is leading, and we’ve been able to build strong synergy to that end.”
Despite Chebat’s reassurances, opposition lawmakers have raised additional questions about the commissioner’s political ties. Representatives from the United Democratic Party (UDP) in Cayo allege that Rosado, who is registered to vote in the Cayo North constituency, assigned his proxy vote to a political agent from the ruling People’s United Party (PUP) during the 2025 General Election. As of press time, Commissioner Rosado has not issued any public response to this specific allegation. For its part, this report is a transcript of an evening television broadcast, with all Kriol language statements transcribed using a standard spelling system.