Three Murders in 25 Hours

Thursday, December 10, 2009, 23:30

This news item was posted in Headline category and has 6 Comments so far.

On Tuesday morning, December 8^th, the body of Leonel Jose Donaire was discovered on the corner of Jabiru Street and Faber’s Road in Belize City. He was lying face up with his hands tied behind his back with duct tape. He had a single gunshot wound to the back of the head. Just about 24 hours after, at 6:20 Wednesday morning, Jason Flores was gunned down while on his way to work. He died an hour after at the KHMH. At about 7:30 that same morning, in the area of Faber’s Road and Kraal Road, a hail of gunfire ended the life of 34 year old Dean Tillett.

2009 has been a bloody year in Belize, and the record for murders will most certainly be broken by December’s end. Many of our young men have been put below the ground while mothers and those left behind grieve for their loss. Business owners operate in an atmosphere of constant fear. Citizens are afraid to walk the streets after dark and even in broad daylight, as they become easy prey for criminals on the prowl. Even in what should be the security of their homes, families have been attacked and brutally assaulted. Just two months ago, Belize was dubbed the murder capital of the world, with a rate of 37 murders per 100,000. Foreign authorities have resorted to cautioning their residents when they intend to visit our shores.

Through all this, the UDP Government seems to have been rendered deaf, dumb, blind and drunk. The Minister of National Security Carlos Perdomo has resorted to making appearances only at frequent cocktails or infrequent official activities. His much touted 360 degree plan never got past the first degree and is now considered no more than a joke. The Police Department, faced with the lack of guidance and deafening silence from the man who should be its chief policymaker, is in shambles and appears completely impotent and unable to arrest the scourge of crime. Morale within the Police Department is at an all time low, as the men and women in uniform are forced to work long hours without compensation and without adequate resources.

The Prime Minister of the nation, Dean Barrow has been silent on the issue of crime, just as he has been silent on the issues of the crippled economy, the dismal state of the public health system and the wanton victimization of Belizeans by his Ministers. It is obvious that Carlos Perdomo will get no help from that quarter.

Just recently, the Minister of National Security released an advertisement ‘bigging’ up himself for the major strides he has made in the Police Department. But in the end, the only achievements he could come up with in two years were the changing of the Police Commissioner and the establishment of a neighbourhood watch! Until there is acceptance by the UDP that something is dreadfully wrong in our fair city, our youths will continue to die on the streets. Until there is proper leadership in place at the Ministry of National Security which is prepared to make tough policies and take a tough stance in the war against crime, the lawless will continue to run things in Belize.

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6 Responses to “Three Murders in 25 Hours”

rod said on Monday, December 14, 2009, 14:21

if the hanging penalty is not brought back to belize the whole country will be like the wild wild west what a shame who knows maybe next time it will be you or your mother or father or sister or brother you need to start pressing this gov to bring back the hanging penalty for any one commiting murder and 20yrs in prison for any one commiting a crime with a gun come on belizeans wake up and get after this gov.
Marsha Pitts said on Monday, December 14, 2009, 19:40

I used to love this country more than my own. I was born in Los angeles, California nad Radised in Belize city and would rather live in Belize until recently when all these want to be gangster started killing for no reason at all. I guess they have no hearts what ever happend to the Land of the free by the carib sea. what happend?
Reemo said on Tuesday, December 15, 2009, 15:49

the article said it all; crime has been spiraling out of control in our country while the authorities are playing deaf, dumb, blind AND Drunk in the midst of all this! what do they expect; that one day the criminals will kill out ech other and there will be no more crime? this approach is not working. i believe Perdomo’s 360 degree plan is exactly what it means, it takes you right back to where you started. and this is because they have no solution to give the people. the UDPs need to desist from their selfish and malicious actions, and at least, make an attempt to curb crime, especially in the city. if not, they should not be surprised if crime comes knocking at their door one of these blessed days.
DWB said on Thursday, December 17, 2009, 20:52

Maybe when the criminals starting targeting the ‘rich and famous’ then will these scum will take it serious. Only a matter of time though; their fany suvs and big fenced yard cant protect them forever.
BSH said on Thursday, December 31, 2009, 15:39

I am a Belizean living in NY, I have always had plans to return to my native country, but with the constant rise in crime, I fear that my family or my child may become a target and subsequent victim. I charge the Belizean government to get involved, protect your people, too many families are mourning the loss of loved ones. The most painful experience one can have is the loss of a child, how many more mothers have to mourn the untimely loss of their children. Train your police force, provide them with the necessary resources needed to get out on the streets and protect the innocent citizens of Belize, and what about the belizean army (BDF), get them on the streets as well. This is an all out war! Innocent citizens against thugs and gangsters. As citizens, we must all get involved and fight to protect our country and its’ people; we are all affected both directly and indirectly. I challenge you to get off your royals and ACT. YOUR PEOPLE ARE PLEADING FOR YOUR HELP! DO SOMETHING, DAMN IT!
creolbuay said on Wednesday, January 6, 2010, 1:56

See my comments on this issue here: http://www.belizetimes.bz/2009/10/30/the-world%E2%80%99s-most-violent-region/

We need to start killing off these criminals. There is no need to be sorry for someone that kills, rapes or commits other crimes. I say if we need to have a no questions asked mentality with these criminals, sorry for the language but screw human rights, criminals don’t deserve rights, they throw theirs away when they decide to take it away from another.

We need to pass harsh judgements with no waiting in jail costing the tax payers money to feed and shelter these animals. If you want to feed and shelter them tie them in a pen and treat them like the animals they are.