SATIIM Says Penner Acquittal Is an Injustice to Belizeans

Greg Ch’oc

The reaction of the crowd outside the courtroom was immediate. As Elvin Penner and his family walked to a parked vehicle, there were cries of ‘thief’ and ‘you should be in jail.’ But beneath the anger of those assembled outside is also a deep disappointment in the system, and a belief that the outcome of the case was manipulated in every way. Several members of the newly formed Rod of Correction movement were outside the courtroom, including SATIIM’s Executive Director, Greg Ch’oc. He told us that an injustice was perpetrated.

Greg Ch’oc, Executive Director, SATIIM

“It’s disappointing for Belize. I can’t say that the rule of law exists. I can’t say that the selective application of the law here in this country has not occurred and continues to happen against the local people. I think what has transpired is an injustice against ordinary people in this country that want to see the rule of law, that want to see that all of us are equal under the law. Obviously what this case demonstrates is that there are those that are above the law and it is disappointing for those of us who want to see justice in this case.  SATIIM is a part of ROC and I think that the birth of that movement will bring about certainly the collective will of the civil society entities that are engaged in various actions that seek to force the government to comply with its obligations. I think ROC can bring all the entities together to pool resources and try to achieve the objective that we have as individual organizations.”