G.O.B. to appeal child abuse sentence

Two weeks after a man who pled guilty to aggravated assault in a child abuse case was fined and released, today, the Ministry of Human Development says it is thinking about filing an appeal against the sentence. Minister of Human Development and Women, Dolores Balderamos Garcia told News 5 this afternoon that her ministry is more determined than ever to ensure that Belize’s children are protected.

Dolores Balderamos Garcia, Min. of Human Development/Women

“An appeal can be made on the part of the prosecution and the authorities against a sentence where there has been a plea of guilty entered. You can appeal a sentence and right now, we are looking at whether we ought to do it. But I can’t tell you what exactly will be done in the particular case, but an appeal of sentence can be made. And yes, we have to self-examine ourselves a little to see whether we want to continue the perception that magistrates are going a little too easy. I have personally spoken with the Chief Magistrate concerned and I think that most are beginning to realise that these are exceedingly serious matters. But I want to also point out that we may be talking about one case now, but there are five out there, or in the system if I could put it that way, that are being dealt with very stringently.”

The Minister went on to point out that many times the media’s information is not always correct and at times, information published is not in the best interest of the child. According to sections thirteen and fourteen of Statutory Instrument Thirty-eight, signed in 1999, the name of the child and information surrounding the circumstances of the incident cannot be published without permission from the court. The S.I. also states that court records are confidential and should not be released without written permission from the judge concerned. Balderamos Garcia says these regulations will be enforced vigilantly in the future.