P.M. reacts to crime wave
The nation of Belize paused to collect its breath today and reflect on the unprecedented and apparently unprovoked killing of three ordinary citizens in as many days. Here at News 5 we did some reflecting of our own.
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
2004 began with blood on the ground…with the brutal murder of twenty-six year old Gilbert Williams Miller. Since then, twenty-four more men and women have become homicide victims throughout the country. And despite police efforts, many of these crimes remain unsolved.
Independent analysts believe a strong contributor to the situation is poor community relations between the Police Department and the public. Many eyewitnesses, fearful for their lives, withhold vital information and others don?t seem to care enough to get involved. As a result, Belizean society increasingly finds itself trapped in a climate of fear.
It’s a scary scene that authorities are intent on changing.
Prime Minister Said Musa
“There is no easy solution to the crime situation, we are stepping up the police presence on the streets, we are going all out in trying to capture and arrest people who have illegal weapons, we are dealing very aggressively with the drug situation because we think all these things often times are related. But there is only so much we can do. I think it does require the full support of the community at large, the society as a whole to realise that we have to work with the police if we are going to keep crime under control. “
Today, Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Rodwell Ferguson briefed the members of the Belize Police Department on government’s plan of attack.
Rodwell Ferguson, Min. of State, Ministry of Home Affairs
“With the commissioner?s support, we need to step up more security forces on the streets of Belize City because the criminals already understand our movements, know our daily activities, and then now they are doing their thing. So it is difficult, but we will need the total support of the people in the community, that they can respond when the police ask them questions, don?t be afraid, because these people are innocent, the families are bereaved, and it could have been ourselves or a member of our families.”
The Police Department?s latest efforts have included a 922 anonymous international tip line and a money for guns programme, both of which have had limited success. But the government is strongly advising the public not to take the law into its own hands, and to remind the criminals that justice will be done.
Prime Minister Said Musa
“The most important one of course is to assure people that we are doing everything possible and I also wished to say that we have changed the law, capital punishment does and still exists in our country.”
According to police, this afternoon eighteen year old Shane Bennett of a Police Street address has been arrested and charged with the murder of forty year old Robert Flowers. Flowers was shot once in the chest as he walked home near Central American Boulevard Sunday night.
Authorities have also arrested twenty-four year old Frank Elijio of Belize City in connection with the armed robbery of the Belize Bank Northern Highway branch. News 5 understand Elijio is the owner of the car used in the incident and could not satisfy police queries as to the whereabouts of his vehicle when the crime took place, nor could he explain why he later took it to a mechanic to have it scrapped. He will appear in court on May eighteenth to answer to the charge of abetment to robbery. As for Tuesday’s brutal murder of sixty-six year old Hilberto Aragon, police have detained two suspects.
