CRIME CONTROL COUNCIL RELEASE

When the Crime Control Council announced its “Comprehensive National Plan” at a press conference on the 1^st of October 2008 it declared the guiding motto to be “Crime is a Community Problem and Requires a Community Solution”. One of the intended objectives expressed in the Plan is “Promotion of ongoing programmes to build a culture of knowledge and of respect for the law including input from relevant agencies such as the Bar Association”. At the press conference on the 1^st of October 2008, the Council’s Chairman stated:

“On respect for law and order the Community can start from now – staying until the traffic red light turns green, respecting pedestrians at pedestrian crossings, not carrying the little babies in your hand whilst riding bicycles”

Therefore when we received the news of the death of three year old Gabriella Osorio in the accident at Corozal Town on Tuesday March 2^nd 2010, the above words proved tragically prophetic [and there could be more to come]. Reports are that the mother of the little girl had the child on the bar of the bicycle, when it made contact with the Venus bus, causing the accident which killed the child. For those who wish to avoid or miss the point they may say that accidents can and will happen anyway. But the point is that that precious child may have been alive today if she had not been on the bar of the bike. Carrying the three year child on the bar of the bike is against the law. The Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act makes it a criminal offence to carry anyone on a bicycle except a child under 10 years and on a seat or carrier attached in front of the handle bars or over the rear wheel of the bike.  It is a prevalent practice to carry babies [sometimes months old] in one hand whilst holding the handle bar with the other. You can also see people driving vehicles with babies sitting on their laps, which is reckless driving. These practices are unsafe, unlawful and are symbolic of the level of indiscipline in the society. We are aghast at crime, even hysterical. The fact is though, that ultimately, the greatest reservoir of power to fight crime lies in and with the community and [though there are many other factors] it must start from a culture of respect for law, order and authority by the community. Lives of crime often start with pranks, then minor crimes, then misdemeanours, then felonies, and then the ultimate – where a boy or man will gun down another in cold blood with no remorse.

The Crime Control Council appeals to the community to begin this change, to respect the laws and to encourage others [and particularly our youth] to do so. The Ministry of National Security, in communication with the CCC, and the Commissioner of Police agree that the Police will play a constructive role in processing the culture change.

If we work with firm resolve as a community we can turn back crime and [which is the real object] promote better living conditions for all.

Dated Wednesday the 4^th of March 2010

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