Family Court provides training for clients

The Belize Family Court is an institution that many citizens, like it or not, are forced to deal with by a variety of circumstances. Today News 5’s Ann-Marie Williams visited the court to look at a unique programme that helps those using its services to make life a little bit easier.

Ann-Marie Williams, Reporting

The Belize Family Court has embarked on a four-month training course for the men and women who use its services. But in a time of scarce resources, why does the court invest in upgrading the skills of the clientele? Myrna Willoughby is a counsellor at the Family Court.

Myrna Willoughby, Counsellor, Bz. Family Court

“We know that people have potential, and we want to assist in whatever way we can to help these people to develop the potential that they have and to enhance themselves.”

One participant who is enhancing himself in the areas of domestic violence, sex and sexuality, money management and today, communication and relationship skills, is Alfonso Hernandez.

Alfonso Hernandez, Participant

“Very important, because now a days the way life di go, everybody wants to take one step ahead of each other. You have the male that wants to dominate and you have the female that wants to dominate, and it’s not a domination thing, it’s understanding in life.”

Today’s guest speaker on communications was UNICEF’s programme officer, Roy Bowen.

Myrna Willoughby

“We’re hoping that at the end the participants will be able to communicate more with their children; because as you see, we have parents in there. They will be able to communicate with their spouses. They will be able to communicate and have a good relationship with their neighbours, teachers at school that they have to get in contact with and things like that.”

Ann-Marie Williams for News 5.

The four-month training session of the Belize Family Court, sponsored by UNICEF and the Government of Belize, ends with a graduation in October.