Fatal Shootings on the Rise In Orange Walk Town
Over the past months, fear has been building among Orange Walk Town residents as gun violence in that municipality is in an upward trend. Five persons have been fatally shot since July; four of them are known gang members. A sixth person, also a known gang member, was shot but he survived and then there is twenty-eight-year-old Juan “Canikas” Quintero- another gang member who is believed to be hiding across the border in Chetumal. The shootings are linked to what many believe is an internal gang warfare and there is no sign that it is de-escalating. On Tuesday night, police almost apprehended a gunman. At around eight o’clock officers were on mobile patrol when their attention was drawn to a Hispanic man on a motorcycle near the San Estevan roundabout. When that person saw police, he sped off with police after him. The individual fell off the motorcycle near the Northern Regional Hospital and quickly escaped on foot towards Trial Farm Village. Police recovered the motorcycle along with a chrome point thirty-eight Smith and Wesson revolver and five rounds of ammunition. Opposition Leader and Orange Walk Central Area Representative, John Briceño says the Government needs to tackle the root cause of crimes by addressing several fundamental issues such as poverty and unemployment.
John Briceño, Leader of the Opposition
John Briceño
“It is certainly something of grave concern. I think it was five years ago that the Prime Minister decided that he was going to address the gang problem in Belize City and decided to send gang leaders to different parts of the country including Orange Walk Town. Here we are fast forward five years later and we have a gang problem in Orange Walk town; something that has been totally alien to us. Crime is not an issue where you should play politics. It is something that affects everybody. We have been saying that over and over. We constantly have been crying out to the government; we want to work with you. To this day we have seen no take from the government on their part to sit down and have a sane and rational discussion. The issue of the gang situation in Orange Walk Town is simply a reflection of what is taking place right now. The issue of the economy; Orange Walk is the third poorest district in the country. People do not have jobs and it seems that the gang lifestyle seems attractive to these young people. Putting speed bumps and building roundabouts will not address that issue. Until we address the fundamental issue of the economy, trying to create jobs for people, making sure that our young people can remain in school, we are going to continue unfortunately to have more of these problems.”
