Earlier this week, Jamaican tourist Christopher McIntyre and his friend Sheila Williams claimed that McIntyre was assaulted by police after immigration officials denied him entry into Belize. On Thursday, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams dismissed the allegations, saying McIntyre was faking it. However, today McIntyre’s attorney, Norman Rodriguez, returned to our office, insisting that his client was indeed assaulted and will take the case to court. News Five’s Marion Ali has the story.
Marion Ali, Reporting
On December thirtieth, Jamaican traveler Christopher McIntyre was denied entry into Belize because he couldn’t provide an address for his stay. His friend, Sheila Williams, an American who invited him, explained that she mistakenly put the address in her name. McIntyre claimed he was detained for several days and assaulted by the police during that time. He shared his side of the story with us.
Christopher McIntyre
Christopher McIntyre, Jamaican Tourist (File: January 8, 2025)
“When they had me detained, they said they were gonna have me sent back on the third of January. So on the third of January, they made the flight miss me. So when they had the flight miss me, I said to them I wanted to go home and such forth and instead of them make me feel better, they pulled me on the ground, the immigration made the police pull me on the ground, hit me on my face right here and then hit me in my ribs. And they tell me like, shut up, and relax, shut up, like I shouldn’t speak. And, you know, I didn’t have any rights.”
But on Thursday, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams denied McIntyre’s claims, accusing him of being disruptive instead. Here are the arguments for and against the assault case from Williams and McIntyre’s attorney, Norman Rodriguez.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“I think he’s more like from Hollywood because he really put off a show. Following the interview I saw that he did along with his attorney I tasked an investigation into the matter and that was done during which they were able to retrieve the video footages from the airport. They also interviewed and recorded statements from a number of persons who were around. And I can tell you, I personally saw the video footages that were retrieved and it clearly shows him, the video don’t have any audio, but it shows him acting boisterous. You can the gesticulations that he was doing clearly indicating that he was being boisterous. The police, as far as we’re concerned, exercised extreme care, extreme caution, and applied our policy in terms of de-escalation in dealing with the matter.”
Norman Rodriguez
Norman Rodriguez, Attorney for Christopher McIntyre
“After saying nobody touched him, he said, he was picked up to some extent. I think he did mention drag before. Now, look at the video, and I’m saying this to the public too. Look at the video. He was held by his shirt in this way and dragged into the room. His allegations are that he was dragged into the room. He was slapped and punched while he was in there. The commissioner’s further words is that nobody could confirm that. That him being beaten. Did the commissioner say flatly, we deny that and nobody confirmed. He said nobody could confirm. Okay, fine, but nobody denied it either. Even in his alleged boisterous behavior, he attempted to aggress no one. He was just behaving like a child out of control, maybe, if you want to say that, but he did not attempt to aggress anyone.”
Rodriguez points out that medical evidence supports McIntyre’s claim of being assaulted by the authorities.
Norman Rodriguez
“I can confirm that he was taken to see the doctor at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital and he was only taken there because while his allegations are that while he was at the hotel after being beaten, another officer came and threatened to hit him again. That is when – from a police officer. His allegations are that when a senior officer from the Ladyville Police Station went there and said, but you see the man there in a pain. Carry the man to the hospital tomorrow, that is the reason why he’s saying that he was taken to see a doctor.”
Earlier this week, Prime Minister John Briceño also weighed in on the matter.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“We welcome any Jamaican coming to Belize. I mean, they are our brothers, they are our sisters, we all belong to Curriculum, and we have the free movement of people. And we’ve had hundreds that have come as tourists to spend time in our beautiful country and to enjoy the people and the culture and the food. But there have been many instances when, um, we’ve had people in this issue, Jamaicans, um, that would come to Belize and say they come on holiday and then after that, then they disappear. They go across the border on the way to the United States. We have, uh, a responsibility to ensure that that is kept to a minimum. And, and it’s unfortunate that, um, that, um, based on what was presented to, to the, to the department or to the officers, they felt that, um, um, that he would not meet the criteria of having enough funds and to have the, um, or the, the hotel or where is it that he was going to stay. Yeah. Thank you. Based on that, that decision was made.”
Rodriguez says his client has since left Belize, but that the matter remains before the courts.
Norman Rodriguez
“The Commissioner of Police cannot say this did not happen. I cannot say it happened. The court will decide ultimately when the evidence is brought before the court.”
Marion Ali
“Okay, so even though he’s not here, you’re still representing him?”
Norman Rodriguez
“Yes, I still represent him. And once the instructions remain that we will proceed, I will pursue it because that is my duty as an attorney.”
Marion Ali for News Five.
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