Attorney Orson Elrington Calls for Stronger Response After Threats Against Coast Guard Commander

Attorney Orson Elrington was highly critical of what he described as the apparent lack of decisive action by authorities following the shooting at the residence of Belize Coast Guard Commander, Rear Admiral Greg Soberanis, and the threats reportedly made against him.    In an interview with Love News, Elrington argued that an attack on a senior national security official should be viewed as an attack on the state itself.

Orson Elrington, Attorney: “The role that the Rear Admiral holds in our society is a critically important role. And in fact, you know, just this morning I was with some of my colleagues at the Bar and they were discussing about the fact that the security force that is most disciplined, that is most admired, that has the respect of the international community, the partners overall is the Belize Coast Guard. It is one of the few arms that is functioning on our security forces where most persons see it as respectable. And so when it is that you have a person who is a respected individual in our society that cannot, in my opinion, and as you have stated and the facts as you have stated get any serious look or any serious investigation into attacks on himself and on his family then yes absolutely it should be something that all of us should be very concerned about. And therefore, it is my hope that those issues will be addressed in a meaningful way.”

Elrington also drew a comparison to the case involving Alberto August, who was arrested after making a social media post that authorities deemed offensive toward Minister of Home Affairs Oscar Mira.  Elrington’s comments are particularly noteworthy because he was among the legal professionals involved in the development and early formulation of Belize’s cybercrime legislation. Drawing on that experience, he questioned the differing responses by authorities in cases involving threats against public officials.

Orson Elrington, Attorney: “I had the distinct privilege of having sat in the Senate when the Cyber Crime Act was passed and I think that that was one of the few pieces of legislation passed in Belize’s history, and if you go back and you look at it, where there was unanimous agreement by bipartisan every single person who sat on both the upper, the lower house and in the Senate, of course where I was sitting as a temporary senator at the time there was unanimous agreement that that was legislation which was needed. But that legislation was not ever crafted, never envisioned that it would be used as a tool to try to silence persons because you disagree with their opinions. That was never the intent of that piece of legislation. And so it is most regrettable when you have persons who are parts of the state machinery who are using it to try to silence persons because you disagree with them. Now, as I said to you, Alberto August is not necessarily my favorite person in the world. I have been subject myself to attacks by Alberto August online but guess what? I absolutely disagree and I absolutely believe that it is absolutely unacceptable, and in fact, his attorney my good friend and brother Michael Peyrefitte will tell you, and I will say publicly now that I messaged him and I said to him, my brother I will authorize legal services free of cost to assist in the defense of Mr. Alberto August because that state of affair is completely unacceptable.”

Love News understands that a letter has since been sent to the Gun Control Board requesting a review of the firearm licence held by the individual reportedly linked to threats made against Rear Admiral Soberanis. The Belize Police Department has previously indicated that investigations were conducted into both the alleged threats and the shooting incident. However, no criminal charges have been announced in connection with either matter.