B.Y.M. Calls for Value for Money

Alberto Vellos

BYM also touched on issues affecting the youth such as education and crime. Micah Goodin and Alberto Vellos spoke of not getting the monies worth out of what has been spent.

Alberto Vellos, BYM

“We call for value of money at the ministry of education. Does the investment match up with the results? Clearly the evidence shows that it doesn’t. Maybe it is time for a thorough review of the ministry of education beginning with the capability and the results given to us by the Ministry of Education. What do we need? We need radical changes and nothing less. The perpetuation of the status quo will drive Belize into further crisis only to lead to social turmoil in the very near future. Mister Minister, get with the times or fall into an abyss or go on your own because we demand much more.”

Micah Goodin

Micah Goodin, BYM

“My country is the most dangerous place in the world to live. Here, our youths are filling up our cemeteries faster than they’ve ever filled our classrooms. From 2008 to this day, almost one thousand Belizeans have been killed of which more than half have been young people. There have been twenty-six body counts for this year alone, including Oscar Daniel Vasquez and Michael Usher, who were both murdered cold-bloodedly in Orange Walk. And most of us will continue to die because a budget like this, a band-aid budget does not protect us, but merely attempts to stop the bleeding after we have been wounded. Young people like me are locked away before they can unlock their potentials. In 2014, according to statistics from the Kolbe Foundation, of the thirteen-ninety-two persons charged but not convicted there is a total of one thousand eighty-two persons that range from below age fifteen up to thirty-five years. To get a clear image of this dilemma, imagine all the students of SJCJC locked behind prison. Let us not forget the draconian gun law that has contributed to the spike in these numbers. Let us not forget the quality of life crimes, bell and light, that has resulted in many bright students acquire criminal records. And remember, people with criminal records don’t get jobs, no matter how smart they are.”