G.O.B.: combating crime is a challenge

Following this morning’s murder, this afternoon Attorney General, Francis Fonseca spoke to News Five on how his government is trying to combat crime.

Francis Fonseca, Attorney General
?I?m very concerned about the crime situation in Belize. And we are obviously trying to do everything we can from a government point of view. We?re trying to enhance the laws. We?re going to pass it through the National Assembly, the criminal justice reform bill that will address some of the weaknesses, some of the loopholes in criminal prosecution system. But obviously, we have also been working very aggressively to equip the police with the resources they need. The reality is that the crime situation reflects some of the root problems in our society and we have to really try to address those root problems. We try to do it through education. We try to do it through poverty alleviation projects that we have. But I think really at the end of the day, the entire society, and the entire Belizean community really has to stand up and say let us speak with one voice on this issue of crime. Let us take back our young people from the grips of crime and these social problems. It is very challenging. It?s a problem that affects developed countries as well as newly developing countries like Belize but we have a huge young population and many of these young people are at risk. Some of them have fallen outside of the education system, some of them come from broken families, and some of them the parents are not around so it is very challenging for these young people. Obviously employment is a factor as well that we have to look at, so there are many contributing factors. I am very concerned and the government is very concerned, and I can say to you that we are trying to do everything we can.?