A Peaceful Protest in Belmopan
Crime was the heart of a protest in Belmopan today. A small group focused on the high level of crime and the pain endured by families of murder victims. But the protest was brief because organizers say events in the Capital interfered with their activity. The group also had a list of demands for the government. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.
Duane Moody, Reporting
A small peaceful protest staged by the Belize People’s Front was held on the steps to the National Assembly building in Belmopan. The protestors, including the mothers of murder victims, gathered to express their pain and to demand that the government puts the lives of the people as a high priority. Organizer Nancy Marin says that the non-political event is in an effort to be the voice for the voiceless.
Nancy Marin
Nancy Marin, Leader, Belize People’s Front
“The reason we organized the protest is we need to give voice to these families, to show support, to show that they are not alone and that there are people willing to stand up with them. I think our country is facing a crisis as it relates to our young people—too many missing, too many getting hurt, too many getting raped, murdered—and it seems our police officers are handcuffed. Mothers of Belize are crying and we felt that today was a very good day to come out just before our independence to say that we don’t feel safe. It is not a glorious celebration like year’s past.”
Among the protestors was the aunt of Adamir Choc, the nineteen-year-old San Martin resident, who was killed off the Never Delay Road.
Aunt of Adamir Choc
“We decide to represent because I know it is not going to bring her back in any way, but it can prevent our people of a lotta things. I come and stand here for justice, to tell our Belizeans that we need justice. It is not only our family going through this, many families going through the same process. And I am here to say that we need a free country without crimes, without dangerous people and without many things that are happening in our country.”
The group has a list of nine demands that they are making to G.O.B., among those is the establishment of a long overdue forensic laboratory.
Nancy Marin
“We made a list of demands today; I think about nine demands. Included in those is asking the government to halt the road constructions and if they could build us a forensic lab. We are asking for the death penalty, we are asking for training for our officers. We are asking for proper IT equipment. We are asking for interview rooms equipped so that our officers can operate.”
Duane Moody
“Now these demands, how achievable are they?”
Nancy Marin
“I think they are very achievable. I think we might not have the political will to do it. But they can. Fifty million U.S. dollars to build one road? You know how much a forensic lab wah cost? Maybe a quarter of that, well equipped. The IT equipment, they can get it.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
