Candlelight vigil held for murdered children
The murders began in October and despite one arrest, the terror continues. To date four little girls from the Southside of Belize City have been abducted, raped and killed. Who is responsible? Is it the same man, or a ring of pedophiles? No one knows. And no one knows when it will happen again, or who the next victim will be. What we do know is that parents in the area need to be on the alert since all the murdered girls vanished from the vicinity of Euphrates Avenue. Tonight, at the urging of a number of agencies, parents and concerned citizens are gathered near St. John’s Primary School to offer prayers and find out what they can do to protect the children from the predator, or predators, who befriends and then kill them. We go now to News Five’s Jackie Woods who is standing by at the vigil:
Jacqueline Woods
“Thank you Ernesto and we’re at the corner of Kut and Euphrates Avenues for the candlelight vigil for Sherilee Nicholas, Jay Blades, Jackie Malic and Erica Wills. As we can all recall the four primary school children were all abducted and killed over the past 10 months.”
Q: “With me I have the Chairperson of the National Committee for Families and Children. Good evening to you Myrtle Palacio. Myrtle, why did you all decide to come together and have this vigil?”
Myrtle Palacio, Chairperson, N.C.F.C.
“We had two objectives. One is the healing; for the families and community to heal. And the other to kinda evoke community awareness, community participation to take back our streets. This is our problem, meaning that each individual should take this as a concern. Once upon a time, not too long ago we were always aware of each other’s problem and came to help in time of need. This is not the situation. So that objective of taking back the streets, of evoking community awareness is what is important for me in realizing this. I hope that this is just the beginning of that.”
Q: “The candlelight procession is just about to start off. We understand that along the route several dedications will be made for the victims. Can you explain more on that?”
Myrtle Palacio
“This is in the spirit of the Mali. The Mali is the spiritual part of the Dugu religious ceremony. So we are borrowing from that idea. In the Mali you godown four doors of the temple and sort of evoke the ancestors. For healing purposes we are offering; we are giving a dedication to the memory of this child hoping that that will give some kind of healing and awareness to the community.”
Q: “A crowd has gathered here. Are you impressed?”
Myrtle Palacio
“I am very much impressed. As you know we don’t have that culture of participation anymore. We planned this less than a week ago and individuals are that concerned that they made their way. The media have been very helpful to us in getting the announcement out. I think this is quite a group of persons and as you can see it is quite a cross section of Belize City and of southside. So it’s a great response and I’m happy for that.”
Q: “Following the procession there will be a number of speeches. Can you tell me who will be giving the speeches?”
Myrtle Palacio
“This is the community. We have parents from the community, a parent directly affected, children giving their vision. We also have singing with choruses where we will be joining hands with each participant out here, singing “Kumbaya,” and the children hymn, “Father lead me day by day”. This is the whole idea of healing.”
Q: “Also with me we have the Minister of Women and Human Development Dolores Balderamos Garcia. You mentioned the importance of community participation, for everyone to look after one another?”
Dolores Balderamos Garcia, Minister of Human Development
“Yes, Jackie, in Jamaica they used to have a saying, “Each one, teach one”. We are taking that in Belize and changing it a little to “Each one, mind one”. We have to mind each other; we have to take care of our children. I think if there is one message that we set this evening by our presence here is — by walking, by carrying that candle and by blessing the memories of the four children — it is that we have to protect our children. We cannot afford anymore murders. We cannot afford to lose anymore of our young girls. We must protect our children.
I am at liberty to mention that there is a reward being offered by government for the arrest and conviction for the killer of this latest child Erica Wills. That is only a part of it and it may be the smallest part. The bigger part is that we have got to make sure that this doesn’t happen again. There is no substitute, as I have said before, for parental guidance and for adult care of children. I will certainly carry my candle humbly. I will participate with all the other hundreds of citizens and children who are out here. And as we honor the memories of Jay Blades, Sherilee Nicholas, Erica Wills and Jackie Malic let’s make sure that there are no more; let’s make sure that we close that square. Let’s make sure that we move along as a community, as a society and as a nation protecting our children.”
Q: “Before I let you go Minister, you mentioned a reward being offered. What is the amount?”
Dolores Balderamos Garcia
“The amount at this time is 10 thousand dollars but we are also calling on the private sector and the community at large. Perhaps we can increase that figure to send the message that we are absolutely serious.”
Jacqueline Woods
“Thank you very much Minister. As you know the vigil was planned to bring healing to the victims and families and of course to the community because as you are aware there is a need for community participation.”
Q: “Good evening, why did you decide to take part in the vigil?”
Concerned Citizen #1
“I realized that it is a major concern for all citizens and myself, being a female, I am very touched by it. I have a niece who is only five years old and I decided that if citizens like myself could come out and show support that we can stop this kind of violence.”
Jacqueline Woods
“Presently we are at the corner of Kut and Euphrates Avenues. From here the procession will make a right into Mex Avenue. As Myrtle Palacio mentioned earlier the first dedication will take place at the corner of Mex and Amara Avenues. That will take about 10 minutes; there will be a couple of songs. Following that the procession then moves on to Amara Avenue. It’ll stop at the corner of Allemby Street and Amara Avenue. There the second dedication will be made. After that the procession goes on to Dean Street, turns right into Euphrates Avenue, down Euphrates and then we come right back here to the starting point where it will be followed by several speeches.”
Q: “Good evening, why did you decide to take part in the vigil?”
Concerned Citizen #2
“I am out here because I am a parent as well as a teacher and I am here supporting the parents in spirit and hope that this will one day come to an end. I hope that this is the last that we have heard of this brutal killing of our children.”
Q: “Good evening. I see that you have your candle. Why did you decide to come out this evening?”
Concerned Citizen #3
“To take part and help with the loss of the girls that we have. I would like to support everybody.”
Jacqueline Woods
“Thank you very much. As you can see the procession is leaving at the corner of Kut and Euphrates Avenues. Here’s reminding that you still have time to come out and join the procession and listen to the speeches; bring your candles. Remember it’s all in the memory of those poor little girls who were murdered over the past 10 months. I am Jacqueline Woods reporting live for News Five.”
That was Jackie Woods at the candlelight vigil for the murdered children and their families. If you would like to lend your support to this community effort, there is still time for you to go out there in person. The vigil is taking place near St. John’s School on Euphrates Avenue.
