Ministry of Human Development Chimes in on Rape Allegations
Since the beginning of the week, we have been following a pair of allegations made against a well-known attorney here in Belize City. The lawyer is accused of raping two young ladies after a night of partying on the entertainment strip last Thursday. Since then, the Director of Public Prosecutions has been furnished with a file put together by the Belize Police Department which has been investigating the reports made by the women on January thirteenth. Earlier today, the Ministry of Human Development issued a release expressing serious concerns over the allegations being made by the alleged victims and the manner in which the matter is being handled in the court of public opinion. The statement reads, in part, “it has been brought to our attention that a certain social media platform/outlet has put out an article which seeks to discredit the complainants and to cast doubt in this case. If this is so, we strongly condemn such actions. This matter must not be tried in the court of public opinion, and we discourage in the strongest terms any victim blaming or speculation”. This afternoon, News Five spoke by phone with Minister Dolores Balderamos-Garcia.
On the Phone: Dolores Balderamos-Garcia
On the Phone: Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Minister of Human Development
“The ministry can’t take a hard and fast position on a set of allegations and that is why the release that we put out earlier this morning is carefully worded. We are indeed disheartened, but the main purpose of the release, well a couple of things, but the main purposes of the release are: one, let us urge our Belizean people to be very, very careful about the use of social media and how they consume things on social media, and then, of course, secondly, the ministry’s responsibility to reach out and offer counseling where there are allegations and complainants and victims. And then, of course, to remind our Belizean public, especially young people, to be careful how they consume alcohol, who they’re with, who’s driving. Watch dehn drink when dehn go da bathroom. Those are the kinds of things that we wish to stress, but coming back probably to the most important item, social media and its use, social media and its use. That is our major point and asking people to refrain from judgment, not to speculate and not to engage in victim blaming. There are certain things that are out there and I can say at this point, because it may arise, I can say at this point that I believe it was indiscreet, the mention by the Commissioner of Police of details of the allegations and the police report.”
Isani Cayetano
“When you say indiscreet, is it that perhaps he divulged more than he should have in his capacity as the head of the police department and his knowledge of the details of what may have transpired?”
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia
“That is exactly what I am saying.”
Isani Cayetano
“Do you believe that as a lawyer, yourself, that this would serve to prejudice whatever investigation or whatever becomes of this particular allegation against this attorney?”
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia
“I don’t have on a lawyer’s hat and I won’t speculate on that.”
