P.U.P. says no to election boycott as Opposition Leader tackles crime

Voters go to the polls in a matter of hours, but the national consciousness of the people is also focusing on the violent deaths of children. Around midday today, the Leader of the Opposition, John Briceño gave a press conference on the alarming situation of gun violence. In the city, in the past two days; two minors have been killed. But beyond that since February twentieth, a total of four minors, between the ages of seventeen months and twelve years, have perished in unthinkable circumstances. Briceño says it is a national crisis and issued a call to action.

John Briceño, P.U.P. Leader

John Briceño

“I urge you to participate in this democratic process by casting your vote. Take a close look at your cities and towns, our peaceful way of life as a society is under constant attack. The violence and despicable attack even against our innocent children is symptomatic of moral decay occurring all across our nation. No amount of asphalt, concrete or steal can fix what is going wrong in Belize today. This is a call to action. We as Belizeans must act using the democratic process of the ballot to bring about meaningful change. Since the beginning of 2018, there have been twenty-seven murders; other serious crimes: robberies and home invasions continue at an alarming rate. Belizeans from all walks of life live in fear. Tourists are increasingly victims of unsolved crimes and now our babies are the latest victims. This is a national crisis. I think to me it is more important for us to speak out about issues affecting our society than to risk being called for political opportunism or whatever it is. This is a serious matter. And if we can’t come together as leaders and as a society, then we are damned. And if you want to accuse me of that then so be it; go ahead and accuse me but this is a serious issue. And we can laugh at it and we can joke at it, but it is an issue that affects each and every one of us. Tomorrow it could be any one of us in this room; I don’t wish it to anyone, not even my worst enemy. But we need to speak out and to show not only empathy and sympathy and concern for the family, but we also have to show some kind of outrage. How the hell could this be happening in our country, in such a small society where everybody knows one another?”