Street leaders urge end to violence
It may have lacked the drama of the gang truce proclaimed at Bird’s Isle in 1995, but today two well known warriors from the George Street and Ghost Town areas of Belize City got together to ask the public to renounce the violence that has already claimed too many young lives. News 5’s Stewart Krohn reports from the Raccoon Street Police Station.
Stewart Krohn, Reporting
The shocking murder of two children by gunmen making an attempt on the life of Clay Monsanto, threatened to ignite an all out war on the streets of Belize City. That hasn’t happened yet and police are hoping that the efforts of Assistant Inspector Edward Broaster will help to increase the peace. This afternoon, as the result of Broaster’s mediation, Monsanto and Brian Brown, the man initially rumoured to be the author of the attack, publicly buried the hatchet an urged their followers to lay down their arms.
Clay Monsanto
“There is no war between George Street and Ghost Town. In the death of my son, I have overlooked it in a way that maybe the death of him is a sacrifice for something better. I am just sad that it had to end that way and the real thing I am trying to get out is that there is no war between us. People were looking for me to retaliate and this, that, doing other stupid things, but I overlooked this in way that my son will be at rest.”
Brian Brown
“Peace is underway in the streets due to the outcome that it’s one big mistake and confusion that is going on an yeriso talking (gossiping) in the streets. I came here to clear my point and clear George Street point, in that sense that there’s no war going on and it’s a big mistake due to… It seems that I was one of the suspects in the murder of Clay Monsanto’s family. I came to get the point across to the media and the public on a whole to let them know that there is no war between us.”
Clay Monsanto
“I just wish that the public knows that no one needs to be in fear of any gang activity happening. My son is resting already and no retaliation, I want him to be at rest. If one to retaliates, it is just like having him living on in purgatory and I don’t want my son to be resting like that. To go and retaliate means that he dies in vain.”
For Brown, the father of four, who survived an attack shortly after the one on Monsanto, the brush with mortality has given him a new perspective on the value of life. It’s a view he urged his younger colleagues to share.
Brian Brown
“I very sympathetic with Clay Monsanto for his son and his whole family. I am very sympathetic with them to know that it’s a young kid who didn’t see his future and I would also like to put it to any kids out there who figure that gang or banging or shooting or this is the way to be in life. This is no route to go. I advise all the kids to keep their education, get to a six form level in school and get a job and keep off the streets.”
Stewart Krohn for News 5.
Monsanto and Brown asked for the support of the news media to encourage the peace process and to refrain from sensationalising acts of street violence. Two suspects, Jason Williams and Edward Westby, have been charged with the murder of Monsanto’s son Claymar and neighbour Francis Maximo on January twenty-ninth.
