The BPM explains lack lustre turnout at event

Paco Smith

When the representatives of the Belize Peace Movement exited the court, they were also asked about the disappointing turnout at a recent rally at Battlefield Park in Belize City to mark the anniversary of the signing of the UNCAC. There was some promotion of the event, but it failed to attract support last week. One of its members, Will Mehaeia, was on the air waves this morning to say that again, it was the same handful that turned out. Paco Smith of the B.P.M. believes that people are not too willing at this time to show their hands but are offering support in the background.

Paco Smith, Member, Belize Peace Movement

“What we have to understand is that what we are embarking upon is akin to that of a marathon not a sprint. Corruption and the perception of corruption and its realities that has to be, number one, identified, acknowledged, conceptualized and then we take the movements on along its paths. Now, in terms of turnout, I won’t say that it was poor. Now of course, there is always room for improvement and it is going to take a paradigm shift amongst the Belize society, whether it be individuals, civil society entities, what you have to understand is that there is strength in numbers. You see we live in a society where it does not really pay to stick your neck out there because if you do, it may very well be chopped off. And a lot of Belizeans they know that intuitively and as a result they lend their support in the background. Very few people are willing to come out there and be vocal and be visible. But we in the BPM know that over the years through our different affiliations we are impacting the psyche of the Belizean people. People are waking up, they are becoming more attuned to the realities and with time hopefully, they will be more willing to come out in public.”