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CEO Williams’ comments come amid questions surrounding the possible transfer of Police Constable Jhawn Gamboa to the Ministry of Transportation. He has clarified the process surrounding the appointment of PC Gamboa to the post of Assistant to the Deputy Chief Transport Officer. Love News reported yesterday that a government memorandum dated June 29 shows the ministry supported Gamboa’s application for a transfer on promotion from the Belize Police Department. Williams says there is a vacancy within the ministry to which he addressed questions about Gamboa’s qualifications for the job.
Chester Williams, CEO, Ministry of Transport: “Mr. Gamboa, from my knowledge, is a very educated person. He’s a go-getter. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English. He also has an associate in English. He is currently a Corporal in the Belize Police Department and an instructor at the academy here. He has also done extensive training with the military. So he’s also a PTI, and a certified PTI, and other training courses. Again, I’m not going to delve too much into the application process, that’s for CTO to discuss, because he is the one who sits on panel. I know we have a number of vacancies and my instructions to the AO was, ensure that we publish the vacancies for people to apply. The vacancies were published and applicants applied. I instructed the CTO and the AO to put together an interview panel to interview every applicant. They did that and I now yield to him to explain that process.”
Reporter: But at any point did you have anything to do working for the ministry ?
Chester Williams, CEO, Ministry of Transport: “No, like I said, Mr. Gentle is going to explain that process.”
Adding to the Gamboa selection, Chief Transport Office Leon Gentle says he had interviewed Gamboa and was very satisfied with his performance.
Leon Gentle, Chief Transport Officer: “The process has not even completed as yet. What happens is that when the vacancies went out all members of the department were given an opportunity to apply for the different positions that we are looking for. We had open interviews for transport officers in the different districts. We had also opened positions for Assistant Chief Transport officer, which would be a regional commander for our department in looking at different zones to carry out the functions to make sure that they carry out their functions under the department’s mandate. And Mr. Zhawn Gamboa was one of those applicants who applied for the Assistant Chief Transport Office of Position. There were two applicants and we have looked through the application, gone through the full interview process and we believe that he’s one of those persons who are fit for the position.”
Reporter: What’s the timeline? When would he be appointed if he is chosen?
Leon Gentle, Chief Transport Officer: “Well that’s a decision for the Ministry of Public Service who then would give us that approval, so we have to wait on their time.”
Reporter: Why did you all need a new deputy?
Leon Gentle, Chief Transport Officer: “The staff is increasing. There’s a number of positions that are now being opened and we do need overall supervision for everybody. It’s impossible for one deputy to be able to deal with the entire staff as it is. So our objective is to look at a deputy from an administrative standpoint and a deputy from an enforcement standpoint.”
Interestingly, the memorandum, signed by Williams and sent to the CEO in the Ministry of Home Affairs, requests support for Gamboa’s release from the Security Services Commission to the Public Service Commission. It also asks for an assessment and two recent performance reports. The ministry previously told Love News that Gamboa’s appointment had not yet been confirmed. Gamboa remains a police officer while the transfer and appointment process is being completed.
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