City Gone Mad!

Friday, March 12, 2010, 4:17

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

Crime Minister Perdomo Must GO…

Dean Barrow Glasses carlos perdomo 2 By our unofficial count, there have been four murders and one questionable death in the past week. That includes three bloody homicides on city streets, one by a policeman’s gun, a savage chopping in the Orange Walk district and the death of a Customs Officer while in Police custody. Unofficially, there have been 12 separate shooting incidents in the last 9 days. In just one of those incidents, five persons were injured, one of them an eight year old boy. And these figures don’t include the daily robberies which also often end in bloodshed. A popular store in the center of downtown Belize was robbed yesterday in broad daylight, and a security guard and an employee were pistol-whipped. Just today, blood splattered the streets of the city as robbers attempted another brazen hold-up of Atlantic Bank.

The streets of Belize City are running red, while residents are paralyzed by fear. Even the sanctity of homes has been breached by home invaders, who rob and rape and murder with abandon. Business owners now operate with full knowledge that any minute may be their last. Apparent fearless and coldblooded gangs rule our streets, and the death toll is rising steadily. Innocent blood has been shed by bullets which missed their targets. Belizeans are living in a city that is totally out of control, and there seems to be nowhere to turn.

The Police Department which should provide sanctuary and stability in this storm of lawlessness has lost the trust of the Belizean people because of its evident inability to protect and apparent powerlessness in the face of relentless violent. As if that were not bad enough, members of the Police Department have recently been implicated as the shooters in a series of murders. The ‘rogue element’ of the Police Department has joined the criminal element as public enemy #1. The families of Teddy Murillo and Chris Galvez have continued their campaigns for justice amid allegations the police officers pulled the triggers which ended the lives of their loved ones.

The Minister of National Security has been able to provide no comfort to the grieving families of those left behind or to Belizeans in general who are pleading for some sort of reprieve from the bloodshed. His appearances have been limited to photo ops while his Commissioner of Police has been left to answer the hard questions. There has been no more talk from Perdomo about the 360 degree approach to crime which he touted relentlessly before elections. To most Belizeans, Perdomo has become a non-entity in the war against crime. To his own colleagues, he has become somewhat of an embarrassment and a joke.

The Opposition People’s United Party has consistently called for the removal of Carlos Perdomo as Minister of National Security, since it became patently obvious that he does not have the ability or the competence to deal with the crime situation. Callers to the talk shows daily are demanding a change in the Ministry of National Security. The public outcry is becoming deafening. The Prime Minister’s turning of a blind eye and deaf ear to the cries of the people will not be tolerated much longer. How many more must be gunned down before the Prime Minister acts to remove Carlos Perdomo? How much more blood must run in the streets?

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6 Responses to “City Gone Mad!”

D. Sansorez said on Friday, March 12, 2010, 17:44

You can’t blame the UDP for fulfilling their manifesto. They promised a 360 degree approach. Well, any shool child can tell you that 360 degree is a full circle. In other words they promised to do nothing new.
Bato Perdomo said on Saturday, March 13, 2010, 13:16

D. Sansorez, you’re circle is going in the same direction. When the idea of going 360, full circle, one refers to the opposite direction in the scheme of things. Think about it D.
Richard Edwards said on Saturday, March 13, 2010, 22:08

I sympathisize with the Belizean people, iI currently live in New York, but I am citizen of Jamaica, and let me tell you this, it is one of the worst thing to feel like a hostage in your own country and in your own homes. To me life with no dignity is worse than death. Why should any citizen in Belize, or anywhere for that mater, live in fear beacuse of thugs who insist on killing innoscet people. A bigger questions is, what are the so-called politicans doing about this senseless crimes against the people. The problem is furhter exaserbated if you have corrupt police officer who do not respect the rights of thier citizens. No one deserve to die at the hands of the police innocently, politicans in Beleize need to act, too much talking without action is useless, and I beleive we have heard enough talking about, lets try and do something about the situation, before it gets worst. in Jamaica 1685 persons were killed by the gun last year, and I ma sure the number is over 300 since the start of this year already, it make mes sick to see what is heppening, to all the citizens of Belize my heart goes out to every single one of you, I understand your pain. One Love.

Richard Edwards. New York City.

betterlifeforjamaicans@yahoo.com
Darius Martinez said on Sunday, March 14, 2010, 14:58

I think the Minister and the entire leadership of the police department or should i say force s be replaced, otherwise this crime situation will continue to escalate. The govrenment needs to get its priorities right; instead of spending thousands of our tax dollars on endless litigation they should be using these same dollars in funding social programmes to benefit the youths, provide the deparment with forensic capabilities, subsidize a feeding programme for all schools, develop and encouraging a mentoring and after school programme countrywide, and finally do a thorough background check on each applicant for the pollice department and once accepted provide them with the proper training then let them go through a rigourus probation period before graduating from the police academy.
william conde said on Sunday, March 14, 2010, 16:19

It Can Make a Reasonable Man Ask Why!
Now in it’s 7th decade
Now in the trillions of dollars spent
Millions of lives destroyed annually
Please Stop The War
The war on drugs, what a terrible war, not to suggest in anyway, that any war is anything less. I read today the US is approaching 1,000 deaths of Americans in 8 years of war with Afghanistan, very sad. Not to mention the Afghans. So where does 17,000 deaths in Mexico alone, because of the War On Drugs, in a lot less time, find it’s justification to continue? In ones wildest dreams you can not find a policy of the governments of the world that has been, not only ineffective, but to the contrary been totally counter productive to every culture touched world wide. The war on drugs and extremist religions are two of the house of mankind’s greatest dividers. And it is common knowledge that “a house divided can not stand”. So, why not start now with the one divider that we can change. The world governments started this war that has taken over the streets of cities world wide. Just where do you think these problems originated? The war on drugs creates more trouble than any drug ever has. Cannabis is the herb of peace not war.. War sucks, stop it.
“Give Peace A Chance”. John Lennon
“Legalize It” Bob Marley
From the 60’s to my 60’s William Conde itchaway@hotmail.com BelizeHemp.com
lisa said on Tuesday, March 16, 2010, 21:40

i was down there fro the september celebrations and the truth be told i was scared. it was so sad to be in my country and fear it. im somewhat grateful that i don’t live in that everyday life that people down there are experiencing everyday.