Parading students say how they feel about violence

derrick villanueva

On Tuesday events were held countrywide to celebrate the twenty-ninth anniversary of independence. In the City, students marched through the streets in the uniform parade after the ceremonies at Memorial Park. While the occasion was festive, Belizeans had sobering thoughts about the unparalleled high level of crime and violence. During the parade, a News Five team took to the streets and asked the students to share their views on the street violence, including the shocking murder of eight year old Eyannie Nunez.

Derrick Villanueva, Student, Edward P. Yorke High School

“Most of the Belizean people that are out in the streets don’t have jobs and the reason they don’t have jobs is because they don’t go out there and look for jobs. Instead they go the easy way to rob and do more violence in the community.”

Amiri Young, Student, Edward P. Yorke High School

amiri young

“It has to stop to help the youths develop more and we can change the place a little bit.”

daniel bradley

Daniel Bradley, Student, Edward P. Yorke High School

“I think it should stop because it’s influencing the little kids around them and soon enough they will be doing the crime and violence.  Peace would mean good because we would have a better environment to learn and we wouldn’t be so agitated to walk to school or catch the bus.”

Anthony Franklin, Student, Edward P. Yorke High School

anthony franklin

“It’s hard, too many people are dying right now so we need to slow it down maybe it can better if more police are reinforced.”

kenlisse simplis

Kenlisse Simplis, Student, Edward P. Yorke High School

“The eight year old was once in my aunt Leanne Bernard’s class at All Saint’s Primary School and it made me feel like mein what has Belize gone to now. As if all these crimes are happening for nothing.”

Anthony Leslie, Student, Wesley College High School

anthony leslie

“Nowadays you don’t know who it could be. It could be them yesterday, me tomorrow, whoever.”

rakeem dawson

Rakeem Dawson, Student, Wesley College High School

“I think crime and violence is a major problem affecting Belize and we should work together as one to stop it.”

William Neal

“Now, when you hear about the violent crimes, especially the killing of the eight year old, how does that make you feel?”

Rakeem Dawson

“Well, that affected me personally because the eight year old is a cousin of mine.”

Shamira Neal, Student, Wesley College High School

sharima neal

“I was shocked because I happen to be close friends with the family. I didn’t really believe it at first but it was just terrifying the same way how they killed our school messenger, Eyan Arnold. Something just like that; innocent people are being killed and it doesn’t make any sense.”

natasha khatwani

Natasha Khatwani, Student, Saint Catherine Academy

“I think that it is very unfortunate for our country to be so high in crime rate because we have such a small population.”

Joy Spann, Student, Saint Catherine Academy

joy spann

“It really makes me feel sad to hear that something like that could happen to a child, eight years old, even though she was at home sleeping in her bed. So it really makes me feel that Belizeans don’t care as to what is happening in our society right now.”

chelsi noralez

Chelsi Noralez, Student, Saint Catherine Academy

“I think it’s really out of order. I can’t Belize they killed that little girl. It’s like so unbelievable. For me as a young lady, that really touched my heart. I wonder, the person that killed that little girl, how does that person feel.”

Keisha Laing, Student, Saint Catherine Academy

keisha laing

“It really made me feel sad because I have two younger siblings, one age eight, and ever since then I just try to imagine how I would feel if one of my younger sisters’ life was lost, especially by gun violence.”

kadesha

Kadesha, Student, Saint Catherine Academy

“On a personal perspective, I lost my grandfather like two weeks ago so that really impacts me a lot and it causes me to want to do better things for my country and be a positive person.”