Youth Council President Says State of Crime in the City is Worrisome

Stafin Duncan

In recent days Belizeans have seen perhaps the greatest effort expended to curb violence, led by the active interventions between rival gangs. But it’s also been a frustrating and heartbreaking effort for those involved, as youths continue to fall in a hail of lead on city streets. Youth Council President Stafin Duncan says he’s seen the work the Police and other groups are putting in, and the Youth Council wants to step up and help out.

Stafin Duncan, President, Youth Council of Belize

“It’s worrisome. There were three deaths and the Police I know they do their jobs. I’ve seen on social media that they are trying to do the interventions and trying to do the community policing. Mr. Williams speaks on social media a lot so I get up to date with what they’re doing other than what they say on news. To me they’re doing quite a bit, but I always feel there’s more that can be done, sometimes even as Police they can only react. I think with the interventions what the Council can do is add a little bit of the youth side. Maybe there are things that we can do to talk to them, to talk to the youth – see if there are any solutions coming from the way they think or the way things are operating and give it to the Police – say you know what this is what we’re thinking, this is what the Council represents, the youth thought. Maybe we can sit at the table. Maybe we can get ideas flowing that weren’t around before. That’s what we feel that we can do. That’s what we feel that we should do. It’s beyond the time to sit down and the Council wants to do something. We want at least to start with – if the Police or any other group feels that they want to be involved in finding a solution, the Council is prepared to sit down with you and say you know what our young people need the attention and we want to give it to them, so let’s sit down. Police – when you’re having your meetings, whether it be any organizations that works with the youths on a social level, contact us. Contact, us, contact the national Youth council. We are willing to do the ground work and reach the youth for you if that’s the case.”