Students march against crime and violence

Earlier in this newscast, we featured the stories of two violent deaths and as we reported, tonight there’s one more child left scarred by the harsh reality of life today. The impact of crime and violence on the country’s youngest citizens is an issue rarely addressed by the media and society on a whole. But as News Five’s Kendra Griffith reports, an event today was designed to break that tradition.

Kendra Griffith, Reporting
Hundreds of students from schools across the Belize District gathered at the Memorial Park this morning to march against crime and violence. The event was organised by a number of educational and religious organizations, including the Belize National Teachers Union.

Anthony Fuentes, President, B.N.T.U.
“The Belize National Teacher’s Union is more than obligated to help to stop crime and violence in our community. And it’s not only happening in our community, but also in our schools and our neighbourhoods.”

Delarai Sanchez, President, B.D.A.P.P.
“It’s time for the children to speak out against crime and violence because it affects them in their academic performance. Parents and the businesses community, the people out there, really don’t know the problem that teachers are having in schools and probably with a march they can see that these children are crying out, the teachers also are crying out for their support.”

This morning several high schools and members the Police Youth Cadet Corps also participated in the event.

Kendra Griffith
“Now the Youth Cadet, you all see it as one way to turn kids away from crime, is that correct?”

Insp. Diane Hall, O.C., Bz. District Community Policing
“Yes, we work along with children at risk and those who just want to do something positive. … We have the PCPEP programme, that it is the Police Crime Prevention Education Programme, where we go into the schools and give lectures and work with other agencies as well.”

As the procession wound its way through the streets of the old capital, the children made it clear what they wanted.

Students Chanting
“What do we want? Peace. What do we want? Peace. Stop the? Violence. Stop the? Violence”

Wesley Student
“It important fi mek the shooting done.”

Kendra Griffith
“Why are you marching today?”

Sis. Clara Muhammad Student
“Fi mek they stop the violence inna Belize.”

Kendra Griffith
“How do you think that this will contribute to getting rid of crime?”

Anthony Fuentes
“It will bring an awareness to the general public that the children are speaking out and we need to protect the future of our country, which are our children. And we believe that through education and through this march it we will be bringing an awareness and sensitisation to the general public to let them know that yes, we are serious about stamping out crime and violence in our country. And it’s not only crime and violence, but also abuse of our women and our youths.”

Students Chanting
“S-T-O-P: stop domestic violence.”

And while the main message is for an end to all forms of abuse and violence, school administrators are also trying to highlight the persistent problem of parental neglect and lack of support.

Delarai Sanchez
“We need the parents to be more cooperative in the lives of their children, teach them positive values, and please let them stop seeing crime in their community because they learn by seeing, by hearing, and by doing. And what they see, what they hear is what they will do.”

“It’s pitiful to see some children sitting down in class and crying. When you ask them what’s wrong, “Miss, my ma and my pa mi di fight last night, I noh get no sleep.” They tell yuh that they don’t eat. We need the people out there to know this. Teachers are being parents, nurses, doctors, counsellors.”

And according to President of the Belize District Primary Principals Delarai Sanchez, that reality is taking a toll on teachers.

Delarai Sanchez
“The time has come for every primary school to have a counsellor in it. The job is too big for teachers at this time and this isn’t coming from me, I am representing B.D.A.P.P. and BUPA, Belize District Association of Primary Principals and the Belize District Secondary School Principals.”

“The counsellor lends a helping ear to the children so that they can get over their problems. If they feel that they cannot tell their teacher, somebody else is there for them to guide them.”

St. Joseph Student
“We need to know right from wrong, to not do the things that other people are doing.”

Delarai Sanchez
“Our hope today is to let them be aware that this is not the way to go, to have a change in attitude as I have said before, so that they can be the useful citizens of Belize tomorrow.”

Kendra Griffith reporting for News Five.