Faber Claims Crime is Everybody’s Business…

There has been a spike in violent crimes in Belize City recently, fuelled by a resurgence in gang warfare and bloodshed. The Belize Defence Force has been brought back to assist, there have been major personnel changes and operations have been ramped up in hotspots across the Old Capital. But even with the police shifting into high gear, Minister of Education Patrick Faber says that is only one facet in a problem that requires a concerted approach. Faber told News Five today that crime is everybody’s business, and not just the responsibility of politicians.

Patrick Faber, Minister of Education

Patrick Faber

“I’ve listened over the last week especially to comments being made in the media, people who are calling in and the hosts of the various shows, and it strikes me that the message needs to be sent that it is everybody’s responsibility to try to curb the issues that we are having. Yes, the government has to take a big part of this responsibility up, and yes there are things that can be done to improve on the role of the government, but a lot of what can be done about the crime and violence in the society can be done right from individuals, and I want to make that plea to individuals out there. I mean I listen as the mothers and relatives of some of those people that have been slain talk about their activities and in fact we know that there are many people who know about our young men being involved in activities that are not suitable but we pretend that it‘s not our business. We know for instance a son might have a gun under the bed somewhere or on an open lot next to us. We know that they are involved and getting money in some kind of way, but it’s not anybody’s business until it comes home directly on us. And so I make the appeal. I know it’s difficult. People who witness crimes for instance might not want to come out and say because they fear for themselves, but we cannot allow the criminal elements to take over. I believe all of us have a very important role to play and I encourage the society to take ownership of this thing. It is not the politicians alone, it is not the government alone, it is not the church, you know. It is everybody’s responsibility. It is like we say in education Mike. It’s everybody’s business to fix what is going so terribly wrong in our society.”