The P.U.P.’s Solution to Crime

John Briceño

There is a level of difficulty when addressing the issue of crime. It is a problem that should be addressed in a multi-faceted, inter-agency approach.  According to Briceño, for crime to be successfully tackled, the government needs to focus on reforming the Belize Police Department, strengthening the prosecution branch and reducing the level of poverty.

Hipolito Novelo

“What is the solution to crime in Belize?”

John Briceño, Leader of the Opposition

“Well, do you have all day? There are so many issues. I mean from fixing the police department. Over the years the political directorate of the U.D.P. has insisted that if you want to be a member of the police department you have to get a note or a letter from the U.D.P., either their representative or caretaker.   They have put in a lot of incompetent police officers and that is something that we will have to find out how we can address head on. There are a lot of good cops. But there still a lot of bad cops. Secondly we need to strengthen the prosecution branch.  We need to get more of them, better trained with the proper tools. So that when we go after a criminal, that if they commit a crime they know that they will have to commit the time in jail. We simply cannot allow them to get away with this. This has a direct effect on the economic situation in this country, the issue of poverty.  A lot of people don’t just bad because they are bad but simply because they are desperate. They can’t find a job.”