Living in Fear…No Help in Sight!

Friday, October 2, 2009, 0:00

This news item was posted in Food for Thought category and has 7 Comments so far.

Contributed

Norman Gillett It seems that the impoverished neighborhoods of Southside Belize City have become bloody arenas for warring gangs who are intent on protecting turf, settling feuds, vendettas, or seeking retribution that lead to the slaying of people who may or may have not been involved, including innocent bystanders. Without a doubt, the escalating crime situation has many residents terrorized on a daily basis and fast losing hope that an end to a life saddled with unabated fear is near.

The shooting of two primary school students on their way home for the day by stray bullets a stone’s throw away from the Police Booth on busy Mahogany Street, the abduction and subsequent murder of a high school student in the former Venus bus terminal on Magazine Road, and the execution style murder on Vernon Street earlier this week demonstrate that criminals are becoming more fearless, and that the Police have just about abandoned Southside Belize City to the gunmen’s reign of terror.

And the signs are clear that the crime situation will continue to worsen. But it remains to be seen how effectively Prime Minister Honorable Dean Barrow and his Cabinet provide security to the country’s citizens, especially to those most vulnerable to crime and violence, namely the residents of Southside Belize City. Inexcusably, PM Barrow continues to pussyfoot on addressing the social and economic factors that need amelioration before crime and violence can be brought under any real control.

Negative social and economic factors such as poverty, high unemployment, shabby housing, a high dropout rate among young men and boys, large single female parent households, and teenage pregnancies push many into criminal behavior. Desperate young men and boys who do not have much to eat, do not have a quality education, do not live in comfortable homes, do not have educated and gainfully employed parents, and do not have many viable options for their futures, are most likely to go the route of crime.

The Belizean cocaine trade, especially, has become a magnet for impressionable youth. The fast money involved is seen as a sure bet out of poverty and its trappings. But the trade has a voracious appetite for disposable soldiers and in the end those involved at the lower rungs must fight to the death over turf and the money it generates. And it is clear that the firearms and weapons at their disposal are impressive and deadly and they do not have any qualms about using them.

But too often, the socially and economically marginalized young men and boys are condemned to a life that for too many is becoming increasingly brutish and short. Unfortunately, there is a prevailing attitude among society leaders that those who are caught up in a life of crime are worthless and deserving of their fate. And who can blame them when some of these very youth decide to retaliate on a rival gang by tossing a grenade into hundreds of onlookers of the carnival parade.

Although the escalating crime situation is largely confined to Southside Belize City, it is time for PM Barrow to stem the tide of violence that threatens to envelop the country. Crime and violence carry high economic costs. There is a perception that the country is not safe and secure for visitors. This threatens to do irreparable damage to our all important foreign exchange tourist industry, which is already reeling from the global economic crisis, as visitors are chased away to other safer destinations.

But the escalating crime situation also drives away investment, both foreign and domestic, and consequently slows growth. In addition, because of the need to employ additional security measures such as alarm systems, burglar bars, and armed guards, crime increases the cost of doing business, diverting investment away from business expansion and production upgrades. Furthermore, businesses also lose through theft as they are targets of armed assaults and burglars.

While the escalating crime situation cannot be fixed overnight, solutions must be found quickly as more and more Belizeans have become increasingly frustrated with PM Barrow and his inability to respond effectively to the serious threats it poses to the general public. It is fair to say that tackling the situation is not PM Barrow and his Cabinet’s top priority. But it should be as we are really scared and do not have the luxury of packing up and leaving the war zones.

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7 Responses to “Living in Fear…No Help in Sight!”

Jose Perdomo said on Saturday, October 3, 2009, 0:03

Can you suggest a long term solution or just present the problem at hand?
Jose Perdomo said on Saturday, October 3, 2009, 0:07

Why UDP politics as usual? I’m presenting a reasonable question for your kind consideration and that is all. I’m of no political persuasion.
Lisa M Miranda said on Saturday, October 3, 2009, 0:26

To Whom It May Concern, I am the sister of Herman Miranda Jr. I currently live in the USA. I have been reviewing the case concerning my brother, and have talked with my family. However I must say that my brother is innocent! I know my brother and he did not commit murder. Even if he was set up, or an accomplice, he did not kill that man. He does not even know the man. I pray that God’s wrath will fall on whoever set up my brother/got him involved. They think they got away but God will send a conviction on them, which will cause them not to eat nor sleep until they admit the truth. My brother recently graduated from high school in Belmopan and then went down to Belize City to live with my Dad (Which was in July, I was there when he moved home with Dad). He is a good person. He would never harm anyone, regardless of what the police say! God will have His vengeance. God is bigger and greater than everyone on earth and He will set my brother free. I know that my brother will have to serve a two year sentence for having ammunition with out a license. I pray and hope that my brother will speak out and clear his name. Those guys that got him involved/set him up, are NOT his friends. I have laid this situation in the hands of God.Sister of accused victim,Lisa Marie Miranda
Reverend Parsons said on Monday, October 5, 2009, 9:02

after reading this article I am now having second thoughts about bringing my 2 daughters to Belize on our world trip that was to last for a few years. Belize was to be our first stop so we could take the time to learn Spanish. This is a very disturbing because I was thinking about buying a house on the beach for us to spend a year in before we set off to a different country.
puppa gas said on Wednesday, October 7, 2009, 16:51

this is not good for our country,,,,belize need a new overhaul by belizean americian train soldier to form a force and come to belize to get it right ……..we need about 1000 train belizean/americican ex soldier that would volenteer their services to belize……..and to get bean barrow and its untrain police and bdf soldier to back off and support the 1000 train soldier….just like how we could get basket ball player for belize from the USA the same way we should get train ex solider from the USA to come to belize and help with the crime wave
Michelle Tillett said on Wednesday, October 7, 2009, 22:30

Every Summer I treat my two boys to a vacation to Belize since they’re doing so well in school. We spent last summer in Southside Belize and couldn’t wait to come back to the U.S. because of the crimes that were taking place. I mean, everyday, there were shootings. It’s horrible. I can’t believe that my country is falling apart due to the weakness of our government. PM Barrow and his administration have to do something soon to decrease the crime rate in Southside Belize. They need to create a gang prevention program that starts from primary school. I also hold the community of Southside Belize accountable for all the violence that’s taking place. The mothers are so busy working a full shift to provide for their families that they don’t have time to oversee their children. The fathers are not in the homes anymore, but are hanging out and dealing with young girls, drugs or violence. The youth are not being raised by their parents; instead they have to raise themselves. And we all know that if youths are not in a positive, loving and strict environment, eventually they will be on the streets hanging out and trying to fit in what they might be convinced that they can get love and support from the gangs in their neighborhood. We can go on and on and persecute Belize government for not doing its job — but we too as Belizean whether living in Belize or in the U.S. can still do something, such as, when ever we visit Belize we can use it as an opportunity to talk to youths that we come across or might know and mentor and talk with them about the life style they are living. We might can’t save every child but making a difference in one childs life, is a hugh gift we can give to the world. So remember, anyone who reads my comments the next time you visit Belize and have the opportunity to speak and up lift a youth, don’t hestitate do it. At least, you know you have given back some way, some how.

I truly feel for the people of Belize because our country is slowly crumbling. May God continously bless the government and people of Belize especially the children.
forex account said on Monday, October 19, 2009, 5:55

Awsome content, what template do you use in your blog ?