Domestic Violence Bill Unifies House of Representatives

The Parliament, which is often divided on matters of national interest, was today on the same page on the issue of gender-based violence. Minister of Human Development, Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, lashed out against gender-based violence and presented a motion that sets out specific measures the government will take. The paper was prompted by the recent allegation of domestic violence made against the former U.D.P. Leader of the Opposition, Patrick Faber, which has led to his fall from prominence in Parliament and in his party. He was notably absent from the proceedings today. In her presentation in the House, Minister Balderamos-Garcia listed the points that the Cabinet has supported to stomp out gender-based violence.

Dolores Balderamos-Garcia

Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Minister of Human Development

“Be it resolved that this Honourable House, one, denounces and condemns domestic violence in all its forms as a crime and a violation of fundamental human rights; two, supports the call for additional resources to further strengthen the interventions safeguards and public awareness required to effectively address domestic violence in Belize; three, will undertake legislative review that fill gaps and put in the necessary reforms for the response to domestic violence; four, as National Leaders, takes a zero tolerance position with regard to domestic violence; and five, prioritizes domestic violence as a national issue of significance and pledges to take individual and collective actions to end this plague in all our constituencies. Madam Speaker, I indicate that this motion has the recommendation of Cabinet.”

Minister Balderamos-Garcia referred to the sad story of Nora Parham, who was hanged in the 1960s for killing her husband, a policeman, after years of domestic abuse. Minister Balderamos-Garcia proposed that the House consider giving her a posthumous pardon.