A Candlelight Vigil to Remember Pastor Llewellyn Lucas

Pastor Llewelyn Lucas, a common man who died the most gruesome of deaths in bizarre circumstances, was memorialized by friends and family at a candlelight vigil held in Belmopan on Monday night. It was a night of solidarity with the family and a sharing of grief, but as we found out it is all part of a bigger movement called I Want My Country Back. News Five’s Mike Rudon was there and has the story.

Mike Rudon, Reporting

The movement, or start of a movement, is called I Want My Country Back. It was born from the terrible death of Pastor Llewellyn Lucas just over a week ago. This first event, a candlelight vigil, was dedicated to Pastor Lue – a remembrance and a goodbye from his family and friends. He was no saint in life, no paragon of virtue, but his murder has inspired many in the community, and around the country.

Ludrick Palacio

Ludrick Palacio, Cousin of Deceased

“Most people easily misunderstood him and underestimated him, sometimes people go by appearances and the Belizean mindset is one of deceit. So when a person comes in and is speaking the truth it is bit difficult for us to digest this new pill if you will, this new phenomenon. He was a person that reached out, a person who was constantly looking to see what could be done. I remember on time when he came to Punta Gorda and the people on St. Vincent block didn’t have any water and he w3as one of the persons who went ahead and demanded and fought to make sure that the people got water. He was a person that really championed the cause of the common man and woman.”

Mark Lucas, Brother of Pastor Llewellyn Lucas

“The story just keeps going unusual placesfrom time to time, sometimes rewarding news, sometimes discouraging news, the thing is now I need to know exactly from a responsible body, legal professionals or the police force to give us, my family some answers that are satisfactory.”

Mark Lucas

Mike Rudon

“Are you satisfied with what you have gotten so far?”

Mark Lucas

“Absolutely not, absolutely not!”

The vigil will likely be dubbed a political event by those who want to detract from its significance – but persons affiliated with all political parties were present and accounted for.

Ramon Cervantes Jr.

Ramon Cervantes Jr., OW North Area Representative

“We came in solidarity with the family of pastor Lou and also his friends and his loved one. I never knew him but his death and the events that surround his cruel death is very similar to the circumstances that surrounded the murder of my father. Especially in the way that the events unfolded, all the circumstances pointed to the criminal having links to minsters of government, to high level ministers of government and then we have the other departments, such as the police or even the Prime Minister himself trying to cover up those links.”

Julius Espat, P.U.P. Area Representative

“It’s a difficult time. It’s a time when families are grieving and it’s a time when there is no confidence in how we are being run. So I think it is my right as an area representative from a surrounding community to be here in support of the concept.”

The movement is about more than Pastor Lue. For many it is about freedom from the grips of crime, abuse, corruption and wrongdoing.

Julius Espat

Julius Espat

“We’re having our young children killing each other, we are having our young children killing others and we want to blame them, in fact it is the first instinct to blame them. But they are growing where the leaders in our country get away with everything, and they set the example and if they set the example and they do erroneous things and they get away with it, then the children growing up follow those footsteps. So I believe we are in a serious situation where our leaders have to reflect that they are there to govern us. And this thing where we are speaking of accountability and good governance has been ringing in people’s earsbut it’s the essence of the problem. If we cannot hold our elected representative accountable for illegal, erroneous acts then how can we hold our young people accountable for what they’re doing?”

Geovanni Brackett

Geovanni Brackett, President, COLA

“We believe that if something as gruesome as this has occurred and we remained salient we would have done an injustice, not only to Pasto Lou and his family but to this entire nation. And with so many strong evidence, we at COLA we just cannot see or imagine a case going through, if this case were to fall through the cracks I can tell you that many folks in high places would have had blood on their hands by their mere indirect actions.”

Audrey Matura-Shepherd

Audrey Matura-Shepherd, Attorney/Activist

“I made up my mind at the start of 2016 that I would keep silent so that I hear what other people had to so, but if they act, I will act with them, so I am here in support and in solidarity because I think it is about time that the people got up and do something. I am tired of hearing people on Facebook complaining, people attack each other, call each other names but they don’t do anything. And I think right here is where the cookie will crumble because the death of Past Lou has profound effect. You see all those ministers running to say that they are not connected, be concerned, the connection is there.”

So is this movement the start of something extraordinary? For many of those who attended this candlelight vigil tonight, that is the hope and prayer. Mike Rudon for News Five.