Evangelicals say God is on their side at family values protest

While government Ministers met in cabinet over at Independence Plaza a small group of protestors were opposing the recently passed marijuana legislation to decriminalize possession of less than ten grams of cannabis. The argument advanced by the National Evangelical Association of Belize is that the small amount will cause the decay of the moral fabric of society. News Five’s Isani Cayetano has the following report.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

The National Evangelical Association of Belize staged a small demonstration this morning at the foot of the Assembly Building in Belmopan.  The religious organization gathered to protest the decriminalization of marijuana several weeks after the passage of the law.  According to Kerm Thimbrel, government’s decision, like the issue of gender policy, is a gross departure from tradition.

Kerm Thimbrel, Member, NEAB

Kerm Thimbrel

“In my view there is some very serious breakdown in the family unit and it is not to me what I feel it is not coming from within the family itself, the family already has its own struggles and I think as a nation if we are going to develop and become strong, and safe and peaceful; where there is opportunities, where there is goals that our young people can set then it is essentially important the family unit be strong, and when we are looking at these regulations that is coming our way it raise a lot of concerns because we previously had the whole LGBT agenda where there is this push to redefine what the family really is,. And in my view it is bringing so much confusion into our society and fundamentally it is almost taking away the authority from parents to be able to effectively train their children. And so it definitely has raised a lot of concerns to be and I know a lot of Belizeans across the length and breadth of this country.”

Enrique Novelo

Enrique Novelo, Executive Member, NEAB

“I was surprised how G.O.B. in less than a week, less than ten days they went all through the process of legislation the decriminalization of 10 grams of marijuana. And I say, I am surprised, why, because on the month of may last year I was part of a committee that had..we called it…we went to speak to the PM and we handed him a document that spoke about considering those same issues that they are speaking about. Many young people that have been marked, judiciary because of an offence, a minor offence and we handed him a document and he said that he would read it, he would get back to us and he didn’t do it. So personally I even commented on social media that we do know that for example to legislate/decriminalize that ten grams of marijuana there was a process that needed to be done. Public consultation, I am here with few pastors and we represent a big number of pastors, believe me no pastors were consulted concerning this issue.”

Reporter

“Your message has now public traction, the audience out here today, you are preaching to the converted, crowd wise it is a failure, obviously people don’t want to hear your message or are not interested in your message isn’t picking up traction.”

Scott Stirm, Vice President, NEAB

Scott Stirm

“And so I believed that God pass nothing is a majority and we stand firm on God’s word and so Jules nobody agreed. Noah’s message had no traction, people laughed in his face and so if that is the foundation stone that you want to stand on, you deh pan yo own.”