Opposition Leader Says This is Not About Politics

John Briceño

The People’s United Party is calling on the government to create a bi-partisan commission to tackle crime. Both Briceño and Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner say that G.O.B. has refused to work with them in order to address the escalation of major crimes not only in south side Belize City, but across the country. Briceño says that the party’s opposition to the state of public emergency should not be interpreted as the P.U.P. trying to cozy up with gang members.

John Briceño, Leader of the Opposition

“I don’t want anyone to think for one minute that we are trying to play politics with this and that we are trying to cozy up to the gang elements and to the criminal elements in this thing because we need to go after them. We need to go at them with everything that we have. We cannot have and we cannot allow a small handful of people terrorizing the people of this beautiful city of ours, Belize City. We cannot allow that. That is unacceptable.”

Bernard Wagner

Bernard Wagner, Belize City Mayor

“We do a lot of youth programs in terms of facilitating youth’s sports. These are the types of initiatives we can do as a councilor as a city but to the lead the entire entourage we are not mandated. We can be in a supporting role. We continue to speak with the government; listen, we are here to support you. We want to work along with you. Please give us the opportunity to work along with you. It has gone on deaf ears so far and this is the result that you see happening over the past week and has happened before.”