Accepting Government’s Errors in Present Crime Situation

John Saldivar

It was a happy occasion for the graduating cadets but also a time of reflection for the Minister of National Security. John Saldivar admitted today that the government has failed in keeping the youths away from violence for a number of reasons. He says it was plain wrong to close the Belize Technical College, the Belize Teachers College, and other notable educational institutions.

John Saldivar, Minister of National Security

“In my view, it is an accumulation of mistakes that have us where we are today in terms of youth delinquency, in terms of crime; it didn’t just start yesterday. We’ve made some mistakes as a nation, we’ve made some mistakes as a government—all governments over the years—we’ve made some mistakes as communities; we’ve made some mistakes as families that together contribute to the situation that we are in today. And I am referring in this occasion in the closure for instance of the Belize Technical College. It was a mistake and it’s about time that we accept that that was a mistake. The closure of the Belize Nursing School was a mistake and it’s about time that we accept that that was a mistake. The closure of the Belize Teachers College was a mistake and it’s about time that we accept that that was a mistake. The closure of Linenam College was a mistake and it’s about time that we accept that that was a mistake. The closure of the youth hostel was a mistake. Today we are trying to address some of those mistakes that we’ve made over the years and the Belize Youth Challenge is a step in the right direction to address those mistakes.”