That's the meat of the whole thing... people looking in from the outside may perceive that if a billionaire philanthropist ex-pat who employs only Belizean citizens, pays into Social Security as required, etc., while living and investing in Belize can have his legal rights summarily and indelicately stomped on for political payback, (which I'm not saying they were, but he is, and we don't know the facts yet) what protections under letter of law would any other person wishing to visit, reside, and/or invest in Belize have. I'm agreeing with Mike C that he may have brought this force upon himself by not cooperating previously as to an inspection. But I don't know that was actually the case, and neither do others who have the concerns expressed above. I hope to see a full, proper investigation and reporting at conclusion.

It was in the initial release from the police that they had tried before to enter, you can choose to believe they made it up if you want. I doubt they just made it up. Warren, I mean that McAfee suffered no real damage except to his rep which took another big hit internationally. I do find it strange he is making experimental drugs and giving then to Elbert who I assume took the stuff, whats up with that? My only interest in the man is his attack on Belize which is not justified in my view and can only be counter productive. He should just go about his business which it seems he is. Its not right to attack Belize making wild claims and accusations that he can not prove. We are taking a PR hit and it is his fault and I dont like it and will make every effort to make the other side heard. Police are not going to engage in a debate with the man or the public and have already given their statement which you can choose to not believe if you wish. If their investigation turns up wrong doing I am now convinced he will be charged if not he will not be charged. I do not see it as controversial except he has made it so as his only defense against international publicity but he seems nervous over the guns/security company deal which I know nothing about. And I would be jealous for what reason? I guess when you run out of legit comments you can always resort to personal insults.

We refer to an individuals response to our intitial contact and inquiries, even with observed violations, as the Atittude Test. Pass it and things go as well as they can, perhaps even better, than they would even in the face of the violations... fail it and things arent as smooth as they could be. Fail it badly, things go, well, badly. I'm sure the Belizean authorities have their own version...

WHEW ! I sure am glad I didnt hit the send button.

Mike C. You surprise me. What you are writing sounds like you thing the politicians and police are not corrupt! How long and loud have so many of us - including you when you ran for mayor - screamed to have this cleaned up.
I never saw or heard him bad-mouth Belice - In fact he raves about how much he loves it and the people here. It is the systems he is calling to task.
As I said in my first post - If the police can do something like this to someone like him it scares the bejesus out of me about what can happen to me or any of my friends.

Harriet you do know my positions well but I do not believe that each and every time the police are wrong. I do not think they did anything wrong in his case. I do not believe that 85 police came because he did not make a political contribution and I do not believe that docs in the Registry have been doctored. These are things he is claiming and there seems to be no proof of their veracity. These claims are a direct affront and assault on the credibility and integrity of every aspect of the country down to tampering with the registry and I do not believe that is true.
The hue and cry is that if it happened to him it could happen to me or any other investor and that also is not true except that his situation is of his own making as is everyone else's. I had not intended to even comment on the raid until I heard such ridiculous statements and felt compelled to reply as personally I dont find fault with the police this time and am glad he was not arrested for anything. Everyone should be equal under the law regardless of how rich or poor. He was searched was clean and that should have been the end of it.

85 police were involved in the raid??? The show of violent force is astounding. Shot the dawg. Cuffed everyone for 12+ hours. And you say the search was clean. Mike, I don't think you or any of us know the details of the facts surrounding this incident at this point. We all have opinions. Something in the milk ain't clean as to this situation, but I have no concrete evidence as to what and on whose part. With a no-knock raid to this degree there will be questions from all kinds of folks who find this disconcerting. Yes, McAfee, the authorities and all citizens must act within the laws of Belize. There has not been any evidence released to date that McAfee was not compliant with the law.

And yet, I am most troubled by the dog and the 17 year old girl..... In that order

Years ago I attended and passed the Belize Tourist Police training Course which was held in San Pedro town hall for special constables (same exam as regular police in Belize) and the one thing that I clearly remember was that NO WARRANT is needed in Belize if a residence is suspected of having ILLEGAL firearms inside.

Everything else required a warrant to search including drugs etc however if they have have reliable information that a premises has an ILLEGAL firearm then no warrant is required to conduct a search.

Belize is not the US and Gun laws are very strict as we know and this maybe why no warrant is needed when illegal firearms are suspected.

I am 100% positive this was the case since I remember answering the question and thinking Hmmmm well that means Police can search any residence without a warrant by saying they suspected they had an illegal firearm inside.

Gaz Cooper

Re: Gaz's comments

If probable cause is established purely on the basis of a suspicion that firearms are present it would lead me to believe that since JM had already registered some firearms, paperwork on file, that gave the police reasonable cause to enter. According to Gaz it's not that they have to have a suspicion that illegal firearms are present, only that firearms are present period...(which frankly is pretty tight gun law)

The general impressions I'm getting from this thread is that a LOT of people here are jumping conclusions based on the assumption that the facts are all out there. I would refrain from passing judgement on anything relating to this case.

Belize is different...If ever there were such a thing as being anthropomorphic with respect projecting culture and legal mores there certainly is a lot of that going on here.