Audrey Says Government’s Response to Caracol Tragedy is Sluggish
Audrey Matura-Shepherd
According to Matura-Shepherd, the apparent lethargic response by the government gives the impression that the matter is being taken lightly.
Isani Cayetano
“In your opinion, do you believe that this matter is being taken lightly by the authorities?”
Audrey Matura-Shepherd, Protest Organizer
“On the face it looks so, especially after I heard the comment by the foreign minister. It’s so ironic, you know. But maybe there are other authorities we don’t know of, maybe there are meetings with the prime minister, maybe with the Minister of National Security that we don’t know of that is taking it more seriously and they will later issue a statement. I, as a citizen, would have expected that statement to be issued the moment that young man was killed in the line of duty with his uniform on and his official revolver, state issued revolver was taken away. Remember what the report says, they shot at him, he fell and thereafter they came over him and finished him off. That’s what they did, that’s an execution. It’s an execution by Guatemalan bandits on a Belizean law enforcement officer. If you don’t get the sense of it then you’re in the wrong country. And so I’m hoping that the authorities are not taking it lightly. I will not assume what they are doing behind the scenes but what is coming out on the face of it, I am sorry, I am disappointed with the response that we have seen.”
News Five heads west on Tuesday and we’ll have full coverage of the protest.
I don’t think the Foreign Ministry is taking this incident lightlyI don’t think the Foreign Ministry is being too soft in dealing with this incident. However he is being somewhat too overly cautious. Even though this is a time for calmness, some much stronger statements should be coming from his office. The Guatemalans should be instructed that this sort of action is not in the best interest of peace and stability in the region. Thus far, every thing that has been said, leads us to the belief that our government is behaving like a bunch of wimps. It should be made perfectly clear that Belize’s expectation is, there cooperation in the apprehension of these men coupled with their eventual return to our Government to face justice. Without a shadow of a shadow of a doubt compensation should be required in the event they are found to be Guatemalan nationals.. However he is being somewhat too overly cautious. Even though this is a time for calmness, some much stronger statements should be coming from his office. The Guatemalans should be instructed that this sort of action is not in the best interest of peace and stability in the region. Thus far, every thing that has been said, leads us to the belief that our government is behaving like a bunch of wimps. It should be made perfectly clear that Belize’s expectation is, their full cooperation in the apprehension of these men coupled with their eventual return to our Government to face justice. Without a shadow of a shadow of a doubt compensation should be required in the event they are found to be Guatemalan nationals. Finally, significant others should not be fanning the flames of discord and discontent. However, by all means justice must be done.