Should visitors be treated differently from Belizeans when they commit offenses?
Tonight’s question is: Do you believe visitors should be treated differently from Belizeans when they commit offenses in the Jewel? To take part in the conversation all you have to do is to email comments to questions@channel5belize.com, send a text using your SMART phones to 8686, or log on to our e-poll at www.channel5belize.com.
It depend on the type of offense. There should be mitigating circumstances where a foreignor should be given the benefit of the doubt. Its foolishness to say that ignorance to the law is no excuse. If that is so, then anyone should be able to practice law without a license.
In general, police need to treat everybody with respect and without violence. It’s the job of the courts to punish AFTER a conviction. When the police dish out “street justice,” they become criminals and in a civilised country would be stripped of their badges. It only takes a few bad officers to ruin the reputation of the entire force, and in this case, the entire country.
I travel some, and I know in ANY country, when a foreigner is arrested, they are supposed to be allowed to contact their embassy or consulate right away. Why didn’t the police let the American woman do that? That’s just basic. If our police can’t follow international law and our own treaty obligations, maybe foreign tourists SHOULD boycott here.
Hell no… We all have to abide by the laws of countries we visit or live in. Tell her to stop bellyaching & get over herself.
NO ONE SHOULD BE TREATED DIFFERENT. THE LAW IS THE LAW.IT IS THE WAY YOU USED IT.ACCIDENT DO HAPPEN NO ONE WAS KILL AND THE RESASON FOR INSURANCE IS FOR THIS KIND OF CASE. JUST GIVE JUSTICE.GET A FAST TRIAL N LET THE COURT MAKE A DECESION.IT IS NOT A MURDER CASE.IN AMERICA SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPEN YOU GET A POLICE REPORT AND EXCHANGE INSURANCE N YOU MOVE ON SIMPLE.SHE WAS NOT DRUNK.
Would you get treated differently if you commit a crime here in America. Maybe it will be because you would not get off the way the criminals get off in Belize . In Belize they never get evidence and if you know Finnegan ,Faber and Barrow you can do anything.
The answer all crimes should be treated the same.
Yes, and would you be treated differently when you commit a crime in Amercia, even in Guatemala????? Look at the situation with Dennis Gongues. Was he treated differently????? They almost lost the poor fellow in jail but was just lucky enough. It seems that we as Belizeans are no longer tinking with our brains but thinking with our %%%. Caz what we fail to realize is that whenever the Police finish their investigation and the matter goes to Court then the Police no longer has any control with the matter. Why not blame the Justice system (court). And as a matter of fact why this has become an issue????? Every one must go through the full procedure of the court. Not because your an American you think your better than us Belizeans. Who the hell are you????????????????
Most definitely no and yes. Yes being that it depends on the type of the offense done. No one wants to be caught up in a different country for a misdemeanor. As belizeans we dont go travelling with the intent to kill someone or commit a robbery. Possibility is drinking and driving, smoking marijuana, fights, or just an act of mischievousness. Yet we hear that some tourists which we know yes come and they buy weed or we see them drinking., but at the same time they are spending money in our country. Belize is a 3rd world country and we are building our nation on the basis of foreign investment here. Let the law decide because we cannot change it but small fines let them go…..
The key is fair and equal treatment for all… problem is nobody gets it unless your have connections, either political or monetary.
She is not the first person complaining about unfair treatment at the hands of belizean authorities.
Other fact widely known is that you ever get into an accident and either party is a foreigner… the foreigner will be chanced. Ask anybody.
i went to belize for xmas to spend time with family i had a good time but i went to two banks to open a account but i was turn away because they said i need belize social security which i produce also a water bill which i also show the bank officer next a id i show california driver liccense but the officer said i need letter from chase to prove that i have a history with my bank so i ask him can open the account he no how will get money to the account i will write checks 100 a month he said that cant work that way iwas born belize if i show belize social card that mean i am belize i told i have friend that live calfornia and he has account at atlantic bank i dont know but i should be punish tocome to califonia to better my self i am going to retire soon dont i should be able to bring my hard working home we are all belize wake up i have here for 42 years and i go home every year for easter they said thats rule of the world bank we are belizean mr prime minister please look into this iknow you are very busy sir i am very hurt thanks george
Both Belizeans and visitors should be treated fairly.
And as we all know from the various reports, that isn’t happening to many people representing either groups.
I would hope that this lady is being treated fairly and not being discriminated against just because she is a foreigner.
There is a common misconception that all foreigners (esp. white people) receive “special treatment,” and I think that some police officers, trying to disprove that allegation, make things extra difficult for foreigners, trying to win the support of locals. But is that fair? To put someone through unnecessary hell just to prove a point?
All processes and laws should be followed squarely for both Belizeans and foreigners. Neither should be treated better … or worse.