ANOTHER TRAGIC STATISTIC

Last week Friday 35-year-old Shelmadene Sanchez was gunned down on her way home. Shelmadene did not belong to a gang, she sold no drugs nor was she known to be involved in any illegal activity. It is believed that Shelmadene was killed because she witnessed a murder last year.

Sadly Shelmadene has become another tragic statistic to the ever-increasing murders in Belize. So far this year there have been 74 murders. This is not a record for us to be proud off. At this rate, by the end of the year, we can end up with as many as 120 murders. This would be an all time record high.

Unfortunately our government is either unable or overwhelmed by the crime epidemic that’s destroying Belize. At best their response has been anemic. For instance the Prime Minister introduced Operation Restore Belize with much fanfare claiming that this was their comprehensive approach toward fighting and defeating crime.

So far all we have seen or heard of Operation Restore Belize is a bureaucratic laden plan. Belizeans have found out that there are four layer groups that will be managing this operation. People who have no experience in fighting crime are managing a “Secretariat” that is located outside and away from where most of the crimes are being committed.

There is the issue of the lack of money. We cannot send our police officers to war against well-armed gangs with three bullets. We  also cannot have the Minister of Police publicly ridicule his officers yet expect them to be a highly motivated department ready to fight the criminals in the streets. And we certainly cannot expect the Police Department to look professional with a meager salary and two sets of uniform and a pair of shoes per year, as is currently the case.

The Prime Minister’s other quick fix on crime is his legislative agenda. Over the past two years and six months the government has amended several laws with stiffer penalties including the possession of unlicensed guns and bullets in their attempt to get the guns off the streets. Again, this has not worked.  Why?  The resources to go after the illegal guns are just not there.

Once more the Prime Minister will amend the Firearms Act with an even more far-reaching interpretation and stiffer penalties. Even members of the Bar Association are already raising serious concerns about this issue.  Will it work?

In this amendment the Prime Minister is proposing to widen the interpretation of persons that can be charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition to include the work place.

To further complicate matters bail from the Magistrate’s court will not be an option. So an accused could spend three to four weeks in jail before the Supreme Court can hear the case for bail!

As one lawyer explained, this will cause undue hardship to many innocent people who will have to spend time in jail. As to the hardened  criminals it will be a few weeks off the streets for them because they know they will be granted bail.

Currently Belizeans are tired of all this talk about the fight against crime. We know what the problems are and what needs to be done. Belizeans want action! They want to see a concerted effort including making the necessary resources available to wage an effective and efficient war against crime.

Of course we all need to do our part. We need to stop glamorizing drug lords and gang leaders. We need to be on the lookout for our neighbors and organize Neighborhood Watch Zones. We also need to go back to our traditional Belizean values of looking out for one another.

We owe this much to Shelmadene Sanchez and the many who have lost their lives to the senseless violence in our streets.

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