Howell Gillett Brings the Church to Troubled Belize City Territory
Assistant Commissioner of Police, Howell Gillett, was back on the streets of the Old Capital this morning, where he continued his community outreach initiative by meeting with residents of Lake Independence. This time, however, the churches were in tow. As many as twelve religious leaders took turns speaking with at-risk youths, as well as known gang members. Instead of preaching the Word of God, they kept it down-to-earth and related to the challenges being faced by members of the community. Isani Cayetano has the following report.
Norris “Cologne” Leslie
Norris “Cologne” Leslie, Resident, Lake Independence
“From di pandemic staat everything gaan up, everything double up. Di pandemic done now, gwein pan di end and everything still di go up, nothing noh di goh down. Cyant buy nothing, noodles di reach two dollars directly. Poverty da weh wi fi talk bout, di picni di come up and dehn cyant starve, dehn wahn thief, dehn wahn rob and dehn wahn kill, Dehn cyant eat.”
It is, perhaps, the most poignant observation to be shared in the absence of the very politicians that they have empowered. These are the shunned residents of Lake Independence who belong to the P.I.V. gang.
Brandon “Battery” Smith
Brandon “Battery” Smith, Resident, Lake Independence
“Picni di go da jail fi weed, dehn di get lock up fi weed, dat stay pan dehn record. How yoh wahn get wahn job? And when yoh go da jail, jail da like wahn school fi criminals, yoh undastand me. Dat da wahn school, yoh graduate now. Da mistake weh yoh mek, yoh wah try do it betta, yoh undastand me and dat da weh di happen now. How much conviction dehn got lately? How much people di go da jail? How much murder unsolved, because people di get better and better at weh dehn do because dehn lone go da jail.”
They are speaking an ugly truth in the presence of church leaders, police officers and other social workers. It’s the kind of discussion that sees these young men bearing it all, hoping that the needs of this disadvantaged community will somehow be met.
A.C.P. Howell Gillett
A.C.P. Howell Gillett, Regional Commander, Eastern Division
“I believe, in partnering with the church, the church could tell them the consequences of their actions on the street. So we the police cannot do that. The best people to get that are the experts in that field. So we are happy to have the church along with us today. We have twelve different denominations here represented from across the city and the message is clear, we want the violence in Belize City to stop. So we will use every fiber in our being to engage every stakeholder that we believe could help.”
Serving as a religious leader in Lake Independence for the past thirty years is Pastor Ashley Rocke. The former church senator, in administering his duties as a clergyman, has seen it all in this community. It is heartbreaking to see the level of social decay that has taken place.
Pastor Ashley Rocke
Pastor Ashley Rocke, Religious Leader
“It hurts my heart that although we are the church trying to bring some kind of similitude to people’s lives, it seems to be long coming. I joined the L.I.U. which is the new organization formed to tackle the gang situation, and so I am a part of that and any kind of intervention that they are trying to bring to the community I am a part of, because I am tired of watching the people in this community suffer and die just because they think that is the only way to solve their problem. The truth of the matter is that I don’t even know if this will do anything today. I think it’s a good attempt but clearly when you listen to what you are hearing, we are saying [that] we are trying to bring God to the community and also to say that we do involve ourselves in social programs.”
It’s a noble effort on the part of everyone involved in today’s meet and greet. Since returning to Belize City last week as the Commander of Eastern Division, Assistant Commissioner of Police Howell Gillett has been making his rounds, visiting with residents in gang-ridden neighborhoods.
A.C.P. Howell Gillett
A.C.P. Howell Gillett
“We are happy to be out here with these young men. We hear their concerns, we’ve taken notes of their concern and we will address it from the police’s side, but there are other areas that need to be addressed. If you listened to one of the presentations by one of the young men, he said that following the COVID restrictions there are many kids who are out of school be it because of not having a device, or having a device and not having proper internet to use the device. So those kids, it’s almost two years now or we’re on two years, what will happen in the next five years? We don’t want what we are seeing here with all these young men out of work and gathering together on a daily basis, that’s recipe for disaster.”
It’s a reality that Brandon Smith is all too familiar with.
Isani Cayetano
“You are a community leader, a majority of these young men fall immediately under your directives. What do you do to keep the peace? I mean, the ultimate goal is for everyone to be able to live in peace and harmony. You, as the person who is the gatekeeper, what are you doing to make sure that everybody is safe?”
Brandon Smith
Brandon Smith
“Yoh sih me, I wouldn’t call myself a community leader. I da more like wahn mediator. If anything di happen out deh and I could stop it, I wahn stop it, yoh undastand me, and dehn look up to me because I real. If I got something and yoh need it, yoh noh haffi go thief, cohn ask me and I wah give yoh.”
Isani Cayetano for News 5.
