- 2023 Awardees
- Born: 07/12/1969 Years Served: 1987 to Current Positions Held: Corporal of Police 22/11/1987 to 30/04/2004 Sergeant of Police 16/05/2004 to Current
JAMES THOMAS CAYETANO
- James Cayetano was born on December 10, 1969, in Silk Grass Village. He is the son of Petrona Guerrero and Ceyford Cayetano, and proudly bears the mantle of being the eldest among seven siblings. During his early years, he attended Silk Grass Primary school and gained a keen interest in farming, budding, grafting, and driving tractors. In 1987, James embarked on what would become an extensive career with the Belize Police Department. After passing out, he was posted at the Corozal Police Station. By 1989, he had transitioned to the Dangriga Police Station. It was here, while overseeing the Hopkins, Sittee River, and Santa Rosa Sub-Stations, that he met his wife, Joycelyn Lewis. The couple welcomed their first son in 1993, leading James to request a transfer to Belmopan to support his wife and newborn. James’ tenure in the Belize Police Department includes several noteworthy postings: 1993: Crimes Investigation Branch, Belmopan 1995: Court Orderly, Belmopan 1996: Special Branch Unit as District Special Branch Officer (DSBO), Belmopan 2001: Special Branch Officer, San Pedro Town 2005: Officer-in-charge, Caye Caulker Village 2008: Station Sergeant, San Ignacio Police Station 2011: Relief Supervisor- Precinct 2, Belize City 2020 – Present: Chief Clerk, Belmopan Headquarters One of the highlights of his career was the privilege of serving as bodyguard for the Rt. Honorable Said Musa during his official tours within the country. To further hone his skills, James attended Human and Firearm Trafficking training courses in El Salvador and participated in numerous local training sessions. Now, as he nears the completion of 36 years with the Belize Police Department, and with only 1 year and 4 months until his retirement, James reflects on the experiences and the wealth of knowledge he’s accumulated over the years.