Asian community unites against crime on the occasion of Hellen Yu’s funeral
hellen yu
Funeral services for fourteen year old Hellen Yu were held today in Belize City. Yu, a second form student of Edward P Yorke, was shot dead last Thursday inside her family’s grocery shop in the Collet Division. The network of Asian owned and managed businesses play an integral part in the supply of goods and services in Belize and today those establishments in Belize City did not only attend Yu’s funeral, but they also closed business for the day. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Today marked exactly one week since fourteen year old Hellen Yu, was killed by one of three thieves who targeted her family’s store on Iguana Street Extension. Since the incident, the shop has remained closed for business as her father, forty-one year old Ziren Yu, recovers from a bullet wound to his abdomen. In solidarity with Ziren and Hellen’s mother, Lilly, the entire Asian community closed for business today. There were regular grocery shops and stores, restaurants like Chon Saan Palace on Kelly Street, fast food joints like Li Chee on Freetown Road, wholesale depots like Food and Beverage on New Road, even Brad’s, the Boledo and Lottery Monopoly – all closed for business.
The closure of major Asian landmarks, such as Sing’s Store, Augusto Quan, William Quan and Simon Quan created almost a dismal appearance in downtown Belize City. This lady who operates Eighty Eight Shopping Centre on Douglas Jones Street, formerly known as Maria Chang, opted to use the day to give her business a facelift. Vice Chairman of the Belize Chinese Association, Peter Quan, said the closure was to send a message of unity with everyone who has lost a loved one to street crime.
Peter Quan, Vice Chair, Belize Chinese Assn.
“The Chinese community has decided to close their businesses the full day and also to take stock of all the other Belizean Chinese who have passed away or who have become victims in the past of whether it be robbery attempts, muggings, attacks and crime in general. We also want the Belizean public to be aware that we are also with you all, we are sympathetic, we empathize with you all for the loss of your loved ones as well and this crime has become rampant and without end.”
Quan says while that the closure will have some economic bearing on business, the more important issue is to send a message to government about crime.
Peter Quan
“Try and bring justice, to try and bring respect and decency to human life as well as property. Every Belizean Chinese that is a victim of violence or crime, we must—we should not take it lightly and especially in a case like this when a person is a young up and coming, very promising young girl to have this to happen to her; just for her .life to be cut short.”
But while the Asian proprietors are irate over the level of attacks on their businesses and lives, they are also sensitive to the inconvenience that the closure causes to law-abiding citizens.
Peter Quan
“This is not intended to all the law-abiding citizens of this country. It is just that we want the entire nation, the public to be wary and to help, cooperate, participate in fighting crime. We’re just getting close to back to school, which yes it might be an inconvenience for those parents or those people that are looking to get ready for school. But by and large we need to show a sense of community uniting together for a common cause.”
And while the Asian community pulls together in protest of their young fallen student, they are also prepared to offer a substantial monetary reward to anyone who offers information leading to the arrest and conviction of Hellen Yu’s killers. Marion Ali for News Five.
The reward being considered for relevant information is between five and ten thousand dollars.
I think the Chinese community is the best-organized community in the whole country. I hope they will take the next step, organize their own citizen patrols with radios, cameras, guns if they are licensed, and take to the streets to catch some of these animals in the act and stop them.
If the Chinese people show the way, maybe the rest of us will follow.
Everyone knows who the worst of the worst criminals are — watch them, and bring them to the ground.
I extend my sympathy to all the families in Belize who have suffered tragic losses of their loved ones to senseless violent crime. The recent shooting of a Chinese girl is no different from the other shootings that claimed the lives of other innocent Belizean victims. The closing of Businesses by the Chinese Community is an insult to all Belizeans. Crime is a serious problem in Belize and the Nation must unite to find a remedy for this madness .After all the chinese are living off the misery of the poor neighborhoods, selling unhealthy food and unsafe products. Belizeans must learn to invest in their own communities and create employment opportunities instead of complaining there arev no jobs.Does a Chinese evr complain That there are no jobs? No they capitalize on our inefficiencies.So why not stay closed forever.
$5,000-$10,000.00 may not be enough money to loosen lips, these kids will take a life for nothing & again without protection for witnesses, I doubt that anyone will risk their life for less than relocation money. Closing up shop for a day is inconvenient, a week may wake folks up. Something has to be done to bring us to our knees for the community as a whole to work together to end the violence.
The Chinese community should close down all their businesses for a while, but sadly, most belizean would starve to death.
perhaps the monetary reward will help in catching the killer in this case sooner or later, but Dorothy flowers will probably just sent him free again to hurt someone else.
Crime and gangbangers are out of control in Belize City; and we all suffer the consequences, not only the Chinese.
Let’s get real here. Chinese will quickly tell you that they are part of us, but definitely not one of us. How can that be? Unless you have been living in SpongeBob land, you are aware that Belize and Belizeans are a stepping stone to bigger and better things, for all these Asians living in Belize. When was the last time you were invited to an Asian night of gambling or socializing? Which Belizean accountant does bookkeeping for any Chinese business? They are part of us, but not one of us.
Shutting down their businesses for a day, is their perogative, but it is a slap and insult to all Belizeans. Maybe they should keep their businesses permanently closed. It might just create more business opportunities for REAL Belizeans.
magician, Transforming an act of protest, which is a right of every citizen, in a discussion over business for belizean shows how small minded and ignorant you are. Good luck
Magician, maybe if your non-Chinese Belizeans would EXTEND friendship and respectable communication to Chinese-Belizean community, relations could be better.
You spend a day in front a Chinese Belizean shop and listen to how the customers address the vendors.
You spend a day on a school playground and listen to how non-Chinese Belizeans address and socialize with Chinese Belizean children.
You don’t have a clue! It’s takes two to form a relationship.
And PLEASE, define REAL Belizean for us!!
If you’re basing this on immigration patterns, as far as I’m concerned, most of our ancestors immigrated to this country from somewhere else just as the Chinese have. I supposed only the Mayas would be REAL Belizeans if that’s all your tiny little mind could look at when defining a country’s people.
Your bigotry is nauseating!!!!
what the chines do was a good thing. I think they should do it for a week and see who all will suffer. Belize fail to realize that most business here is Belize and country wide are mostly chines come on wake up people see one day and everybody the cry they can buy food just think bout it. G. Lopez the chines might be sell unhealthy food but it is left to us to buy and we do support them cause some woman are lazy to even cook food they send buy chicken at chiny so be it it is left to us to support them and Magician you say let them shut down but who will suffer Belizean don’t want to work they are lazy no one stop Belizean from opening up a business. Come on people get real chines will soon take over the country. Our prime Minister don’t want to do any thing. Belize is a stupid country thats all about it justice system is crap……….so nough said about it Belize is done not with this government. We talk too much. We got to work and stop talk
Empress you’re on point and to you guys out there who are mad at the solidarithy within the chinese community then maybe you all should come together and don’t buy that greasy bag for a day.you’ve got buying power.
I can’t believe how you people continue to seperate Chinese Belizeans from “Belizeans”.
Here we are talking about a 14 year old girl who grew up in Belize and went to school in Belize just as any other East Indian, Creole, Mayan, Garifuna, Mestizo, Mennonite, American, European, African and Taiwanese-Belizean child would.
Please honor her memory and her sympathize with her family’s plight and pain by at least showing some respect for her heritage.
And start doing some reflection on what the meaning of “BELIZEAN” really is. We don’t even know how to define ourselves. What a shame.
I agree with Progressive woman, the Chinese are willing to work cheap and hard, most of us who are non oriental Belizeans are just to lazy. We should applaud them for their success, imitate some of their hard work, and most of all stand with them to fight this incredible injustice that is inflicted on our whole country by these heartless animals. If the governement will not contain these criminals, we will soon see vigilantism break out, and I will join when it happens
G. Lopez: I can’t see how the closing of business is an insult to all Belizeans and at the of your comment you say that they should remain closed forever….Do I then take it that you want them to insult Belizeans forever?
Wit that said, the only part of your comment one can agree with is that their food may not be healthy. Also, the chinese don’t complain about there being no jobs because they make jobs for themselves…we should follow that example.
I concur with you that we must unite and I believe that we have very good examples of unity with the Chinese, Indian and Menonite communities. Instead of being negative towards them, we should step our game up and work together to build a better Belize.
Magician, define REAL Belizean…because of negative people like you we cant move ahead as a nation.
I support your comment Progressive woman…
Right on it Empress….If I may add….we may have a chinese PM in the near future….and perhaps may do better for the country.
G Lopez: No one put a gun to your head and tell you buy at the Chiney man store.I als don’t think it’s an insult to the Belizean people that the Chinese community came to an agreement to close their stores for a day to bring attention to the senseless murder of this student.With that said this young lady might be of Chinese descent.However if she was born is Belize she is Belizean like any one of us.
And about that unhealthy food, Proud…
Supply and DEMAND.
They are responding to a market.
If people want healthy food, then I’m sure Chinese Belizeans working in Belize’s fast food industry would make the necessary adjustments.
Many Chinese-Belizean families are very aware of healthy cooking and eating, and could easily cook up something healthy for customers.
But if people want the “greasy bag”, then well, the “greasy bag” is what they will get.
I remember asking a close Chinese Belizean friend of mine in primary school. “Do you eat fry chicken?”
“No,” she laughed.
She and her family actually ate healthy food at home — lots of vegetables, but the fried chicken was good business and like any smart business person, you make what people want.
Now, if there is a major concern and the Health Department realizes that there needs to be intervention (because customers aren’t demanding healthy food, but obesity-related illnesses continue to affect the nation), then they can get involved to implement some regulations.
And to avoid targeting the Chinese Belizeans, the Health Department would have to look at all ethnic food businesses in Belize. I’m sure we could find some “unhealthy” foods being served at the table at non-Chinese Belizean restaurants/shops.
Guess my conclusion is: “Their food may not be healthy” is just part of the equation. Always look at the full picture.
Also I would change that “their food” to “some of their food” to be more accurate.
Hello Belizeans….. Again I say> Hunt down the animals and kill them. All the protest and praying in the world will not help. We are at war with humans who wish to destroy us.. our livelihood… our families… our everything. Wake up!! I hail and comend all the hard working Asians living in Belize. They are an important part of our survival. Wake up Belizeans. Unite and go hunting.
Josh
to my view what the chinese did did not insult me but made me shame as to why can’t we do the same unite to show our concern and right to fight against these crimes. you see mestizo, garifuna, mennonite , hindus we should also do the same close for a day when a establishment for business is affected by crime since most business some how bring a job to some one in the community. why can’t the croeles or garifuna do the same thing when they have a fallen memeber of thier enthic because we don’t have unity, same goes to us mestizos we tend to watch what happens but don’t unit.
we can complain about any group of people, but it does no good unless we try to right the wrongs, be it criminals or “unhealthy” food and products. at least the chinese are making a stand. all belizeans should follow their lead to beat the criminals, afterall it is mostly natives who are killing each other, and natives who are buying the food and goods.
Kriolgial: Totally agree with you.
my condolences to Helen Yu…
Its not an insult what this chinese community did. i can agree in a sense that it is a slap to belizeans because they are really united as someone mentioned before. Its true, so much praying and protesting isnt gonna do evrything its good to have God as the center of our lives but hey! God does his part but we are also expected to do our part. Its senseless when peopl just talk without really thinking what they are saying. The chinese people are the ones who are NOT respected by belizeans..So why would they want to have us in their cirlce if all we do is disrespect and not appreciate the things they do for us, I mean lets face it, where would u find supermarkets or stores that are owned by “belizeans”. Another point that i want to bring who are belizeans…as far as i knw this girl is a belizean just because her parents come from china or where ever doesnt make them less a belizean than you and me. If we categorize chinese because of their skin color and facial appearance, the hindus because of their traditions and clothing then how would we categorize belizeans? what would belizeans need to have to make them belizeans??? A gun?? a stupid closed mind?? a head with a smoked brain??? is that what “reall” belizeans look like?? then im sorry i regret being a belizean… i really do….Open your eyes people WE are all belizeans we all make belize….lets ask for death penalty…lets hang these things we call humans….DPP please dont let these creatures free…dont have pitty did they have pitty when they pulled the trigger?? Murderers, rapists, theives all of these criminals should be killed upon entering Prison becasue we dont even count with a good security system at Hattiville prison…we often hear that prisoners escape…lets do something Belize….Mr. Prime Minister….please i humbly ask you re-organize your agenda…less trips to the US and more results for our country….
Dear Magician,
I am a Chinese born Belizean living permanently in California and I do concur with some of your points. I agree on two aspects:
1. I agree that some immigrants do not want to be assimilated into the Belizean culture and don’t go out and party with ‘Belizeans’. 2. I also agree that Chinese don’t invite ‘Belizeans’ to gambling night or invite Belizeans to any other social function that is ‘Chinese’. Some of them seem to be asocial and unfriendly.
But have you considered that this is because they are always working and don’t have much time for entertainment? When some of them do rest, the language and cultural barriers erected by society inhibits them from associating when the rest of society. Can you imagine being forced to work for 12+hour days from Monday to Saturday and only resting a few hours on Sunday? I can’t. And I’m Chinese. I’d rather go out with my buddies (of different racial backgrounds) and shoot some hoops or pool or something that doesn’t require me to stay constrained inside a small box for minor profits. To me, my freedom is worth much more than those petty profits.
Yet I disagree on your tone and your attitude towards our national problem. I believe that we as a country need to stand united and should follow the Chinese as an example. We need to unite against crime, criminals must be punished. Our current justice system is too lax and we must demand change from politicians. I have a few thoughts on that subject, but that’s for another post.
btw, at my previous shop, we did hire Belizeans (aka non-Chinese) to do the monthly accounting. And most of my cousins were born in Belize and have adapted the ‘Belizean’ style of life. And my cousin is marrying a Belizean woman. And they are planning to stay in Belize forever. And, finally, they all speak Belizean Creole.
I am BELIZE. I am a Belizean.
I am Maya, Meztizo, Garifuna, Creole, Asian, East Indian, European, Middle Eastern, Mennonite, African, Caribbean, and American from Central, North and South. We are ALL Belize.
I am my brother’s and sister’s keeper, and I stand in solidarity for the loss of ANY child of ours, of any race, creed or color.
WILL YOU?
I agree with kriolgial !
I still don’t understand what unhealthy food has to do with Helen yu death. It’s amazing how ridiculous ppl get. someone was killed by the stupidity of these criminal an for what ever the reason one closes it’s not our problem it jus happen it was for a worthy cause. An true how do we define belizeans I tought we were many cultures one country belize. An more over y is it that we only hear complains about Chinese what about the Indians don’t they open business too a build big fancy home ( no offense) they live here too but we don’t hear anyone bashing them about taking business away from our ppl . Furthermore a young life was taken let’s all unite an stop being selfish cuz it’s not ur family but someday it cud be one of ours. rip Helen yu
Dear Magician and G Lopez:
maybe i didn’t invite you to my house for a drink. perhaps you are busy hating on others. maybe blame others for working too hard? my question to you is have you done your part to get to know us?
i am a taiwanese born belizean now living back in asia. i did my best to blend in to the belize culture during my 4-year stays and some of my best friends today remain to be belizeans.
great countries welcome immigrants. instead, we should thank them for thinking our country worth making a new life in. perhaps if you open your mind and change your negative tone, you will find immigrants in general are trying to leave a good impression.
after all, if you are an immigrants by default, how do you like all the name callings and hostile tauting toward you upon arrival?
as for making a few bucks for a living, enlighten me with the choices of food when people are only willing to spend a few bucks for a meal. you got your protein and carbs in chicken and fries.
a michelin star/fully organic restaurant in downtown belize will not be a smart business regardless of ethnic background, don’t you agree?
if you want healthy food, get your lazy a… up and do it at home.
I am a chinese…and I got invited a party that’s BELIZEAN.
Too bad….I was the only chinese…feels awkward….cause almost everyone there was black.
My friend is whtie…wtf!!!!
Can you imagine if you’re the only black in a chinese party….
Wayne Tao, Im really happy you decided to make that post. It is really nice to get your perspective. You are as Belizean as I am and the Constitution of Belize which is the Law of the Land states so.
Im with you, Ireas!
Very nice, Donfredo. I am always embarassed to hear even the lil children calling people of Asian descent “chineyman” or “chineybway”. Im used to saying “Sir”. I used to hate when I was growing up and they called me “yellow belly pania”….and I gave a few hits to those who called me names so I understand what you mean by name-calling.
Belize is the melting pot of cultures. But some of us are too narrow-minded to appreciate our uniqueness. Bless all the cultures. I am Belize!
I took note of the cooperative initiative taken by the Belize Chinese Association and Chinese businesses nationwide last week to close down their places of business supposedly in protest of the killing of the 14 year old child, Helen Yue. While it disheartens me to read of yet another murder taking place in our country (especially considering it was the murder of an innocent child), I must emphasize that this young lady has not been the only innocent victim of murder recently in our country. Everyone including Chinese Belizeans and Chinese nationals doing business in Belize should feel no more empathy for this child than any other innocent victim of murder in our country. According to Channel 7 News, the last national shutdown by the Chinese business community was staged in April of 2005 when another Yue, Susan Yue was killed in Orange Walk Town. I find these supposed “stands” by the Chinese community to be more divisive than anything meaningful or constructive.
My suggestion to the Belize Chinese Association, Chinese Belizeans and Chinese nationals doing business in Belize is simple. Rather than taking a bold stand only when someone who looks like you or speaks like you is innocently murdered, take a bold stand when ANY Belizean or anyone for that matter is innocently harmed in our country. Then and only then can you expect any kind of respect or support for your supposed “stand” against crime
Hmmm, donfredo,& Wayne,
This year during one of the worst rain storms we have had in a while, I drove about 40 miles to attend the funeral of a woman I called Mom, whom I had known for years. I was oblivious to the stares from people who did not know me as I hugged her children & grandchildren.
Donfredo, I stood out because like you, I was the odd one, I was the only black person in a room full of Asians. Despite her limited English & my inability to speak her native tongue, she was one of the warmest, most loving human beings I have ever met & a damn good cook. So the ones who spoke English but sometimes asked really stupid or offensive questions or expressed their assumptions did not phase me. The sense of camaraderie I felt as I prepared food with my Korean sisters, the love I know the Vietnames are expressing when they send me a loaf of something similar to our tamales or make sure I get a share of the meat pies & hot french bread or teaming up on a project with my Thai & Chinese brothers & sisters was a lot like what was our culture back home.
Having gone on retreats where all or the majority of the attendees were Asians, in my other life, the majority are white, sat in classes dominated by Asians & traveling to Asian countries including China where Nihao & nihaoma was not enough to help me make a phone call home, I think we all need to cut each other some slack. I have traveled in portions of Asia where I do not see another black person for days or sometimes weeks, where people point & stare & more than once touched my arm, I assumed to make sure I was real.
Hmmm, I have attended Asian weddings here & in Asia, I’m not great at it but that did not keep me off the dance floor. My while colleagues were afraid when several Asian men kept talking to me as we were trying to leave. Nothing in these men’s facial expression or body language was threatening, all they wanted to do was practice their English which is what I found in many Asian countries & as a person of colour, I treated them the way I feel all of us should treat each other, with respect .I will say to you, it takes confidence but ask a sistah to dance next time, she won’t hurt you. Wayne, you’re a BBC(Bzn Born Chinese) show Hmmm how to punta, he may have to start running from all the black girls trying to dance with him.
My point is, underneath the facade, we’re a lot more alike than we are different.
WE ARE ALL GOD’S CHILDREN!!!!
Red and Yellow, Black and White ……………. we are ALL PRECIOUS IN HIS SIGHT!!!!!
Sadly, this whole conversation has taken a turn for the worst, this is not about black nor white, nor chinese, it is about the violence that continues to plague our society on a daily basis, abviously death or violence does not care what color you are.
Moving on here:We might not like the things that magician is saying here, but he is partly telling the truth about the way things are in Belize., that is not to say that he is half way right about an entire race of people, I can prove him dead wrong.
I disagree with the statement that the Chinese are the best orgnized community in all of Belize, the poster abviously forgotten about spanish lookout, and how well organized and succsessful they are in their communities.
BZNinCALI, BET YOU DANCED JUST FINE.