Seventy percent of poll shows disagreement with Minister of Tourism
Manuel Heredia
On Tuesday we posed the question: Do you agree with Minister Heredia that Creoles should be profiled before visiting San Pedro? An overwhelming number of persons who answered generally thought that they could not support that stance. One response by IMS said that the Minister needs to apologize and others opined that he should tender his resignation. On the e-poll on our website about seventy-five percent of those who voted said they did not agree with Heredia. To take part in the conversation all you have to do is to send comments to questions@channel5belize.com or texting to SMART at 8686, or log on to our e-poll at www.channel5belize.com.
Is San Pedro another country. That minister is prejudice and by no means he should be a minister of government of Belize. Our prime minister is black so is many respectable people in our country, not only black people doing crime it is only that the blacks are getting cough so it is recorded. He need to find another country to live or go where HITLER is and live there.
i am a businessman who employs over 150 people in 4 districts. I am not prejudice but i will say outright in 21 years of experience that countrywide creoles and blacks are 70% lazy while spanish people are 30% lazy.belize city people are 90% lazy and are only looking for a paycheck with as little work as possible. 90% of my workforce is minimum wage however so i speak for minimum wage workers
I saw the news clip where they taked about the shooting and then said, “here is what Minister Herredia had to say”. Then it shows a clip of him responding to a completely different issue. He never was coming down on Creoles at all. The real topic is that San Pedro needs more police to handle the rise in crime that is not only hurting the Island but the tourism industry. One point that repeat offenders often come to the island by ferry and even though the police know who these people are and that they come with no money and no place to stay and are coming to commit crimes, nothing is being done to protect us. This question itself makes the Minister appear guilty. So given that, shouldn’t it be higher than 70%? Perhaps people need to ask the people who live in San Pedro what the facts are. Sad that most of the tax revenues from San Pedro go to the rest of the country but when San Pedro needs help, none is given. This incident is not a race issue at all. It’s about crime prevention and enforcement.
Aldo Diego:I don’t get it what do you mean by creole and blacks creole people are black.Or do you mean creole ang Garinagu get your facts right before you post anything up here my bwai because you sound just like the Tourism minister.Why don’t you ask him for a tour guide job?
Preach Jonathan, it is not about racism, we are all Belizeans but we need to protect San Pedro our Golden Goose. San Pedro needs to stop crime and a manifesto is needed, just show your ID why are they afraid of showing ID’s.
The Hispanic San Pedranos are racist. The Blacks that were born in San Pedro are racist. The Older Blacks that own and operates businesses in San Pedro are racist. The Hispanic, Garifuna and Indian Police are very racist. They show their through colors when they are in San Pedro against the Creole. I know this for a fact; Because I was there.
Scuba Mom: Sorry ,but i disagree with your statement.How are you going to say San Pedro is Our Golden Goose when the Tourism Minister has made it clear that if you’re a Belizean who doesn’t reside on San Pedro and wish to go there then you’re going to be subjected to some kind of screening.Is the Tourism Minister that all the resident’s of La India Bonita are perfect.
How can someone so ignorant be a minister? It all reflects bad on the country of Belize. Get this … out of office. What a shame!
Scuba Mom,if I should show my ID ,then everyone should show ID.Not just me because I am black.That would be equal treatment. Any other way is discrimination.If black people in America had just take abuse from Whites we would not have Obama in the white house today.If Rosa Parks did not stand up for her rights blacks would still be on the back of the bus. Stand up my black Belizean brothers and sisters dont let this blow away that easy, because tomorrow it will be something else.You do not have to like my black you no what,but you will respect me.Dont let them hide behind crime to discriminate against black people.Put the pressure on Barrow that this Minister got to go,or other wise we will run Barrow out of office.
This message is for the black youths in Belize.I was once a black youth in Belize,but like many black youths of my genaration we came to America because we were denied the opportunity to live up to our full potential.A lot of us came to America and did well.Now it is your turn.Will stay and fight .Coming to America is not as easy as 35 years ago when I came.The only thing you turn your power against the wrong people.You turn it against your own.Turn it against your oppressors.You already tried the ballot.
i just enjoy how people on here argue about something that will simply pass away like a “little breeze”. And then eventually re-surface for no good reason. Move on people, leave ignorance alone and embrace productivity. otherwise what are we really fighting for?
John Boy/Carson , Californio – Listen Uncle Tom, you speak yet you are miles away from all of this…you should speak of what you know and stop talk empty words. Nothing of this compares anything about Obama and Parks. Parks is a total hero, nuff respect, but who was the the majority in our country? the creole and dont come and tell me that they were not racist!!!
My father, born and raised in Belize…back in the 60’s applied to work at one of the little ministries back then and the creole ja… who was in charge told him ” pania…hall your r.. back across the border…Belize is a black mans country…” and that was that! No job ….just because he was a “pania”!! 30 years later…that same man came to us begging for assistance since he had lost his job and his family had left him for someone in the USA….yes lost his family!!!! we are not christians but we believe in helping a fellow man no matter what!
We have been born, raised here, have faced adversities, hurricanes, fires, death, poor economies and we have fought each time!! we have prevailed and we continue to live and help our belizean brothers -black, yellow and which ever race wants and needs our help…we have not ran away from our home!!! we pay our taxes, our social security, and we suffer!!! we are not miles away instigating!!! my son and my wife…spanish…mixed with creole conitnue to work hard for the benefit our our home and nation…will never leave our country no matter how sweet the roses are on the other side!! My dad has always thought us of being strong BELIZEANS -not belicenos – we all have BELIZEAN PASSPORTS AND APPLY FOR VISAS WHEN TRAVELLING!!! we are citizens and nationals of only one country!!! PROUD TO BE BELIZEAN – LATINO!!!
SO instead of trying to destroy the goose that lays the golden egg…use your mind to make solutions and not show your true racist colors!!! because all those belizeans -living in the USA feel that you are better than us!!
BELIZE lindo …ITS FOR ALL OF US!!!
what is wrong with the san pedranos trying to protect their home from undesirables? Gang bangers, drug dealers, troublemakers? If you have nothing to hide …show you self…present your ID…and by the way 90% chance that the officer in charge and revising you will be black!!! go figure!!
come to Belize…live with us…dont hide behind uncle sam and obama!! he is nothing more than a puppet to his white billionaire financiares and donors!!!
Aldo Diego, I commend you for hiring 150 people in 4 districts, but I totally disagree with your statistics and your stereotyping of different ethnic groups my friend. In my view, your statement is irrelevant to the Minister’s profiling of Creoles before visiting the Island. You need to understand that not all Belizeans are Creoles and Creoles (Blacks) according to your interpretation, are not the only Black people that visit the Island, again, not all Black people are criminals, just think about that ok. I agree with any/all transportation agencys with establishing a “Manifest” for safety and emergency reasons, which should have been established long before the Minister put both of his feet in his mouth, and not for obvious discriminatory reasons, which I can sense that you condone. If your statistic of 70% of Creoles being lazy is proven right, then you gotta be damn Crazy. You are forgetting about the high rate of unemployment due to our Country’s economy and lack of Industries throughout the entire country. This being said, it does not give any BELIZEAN the right to commit a crime in our Country. Mek di Law Enforcement Officials do dehn job, wi Court System do dehn job, and di Minista fu shut ih damn mouth if ih noh gat anything good fu seh. Dat goh fu you to mi friend, wi have Black Garinagus, Black Coolies, Black Spanish, and now Black Indian, soh watch you mouth. Yo soy un garifuna mi amigo, how you like dat, ah di try talk you language.
John Boy, First of all everyone is interpreting this in the wrong way, Minister Heredia used the term Creole to make a point. Have you John Boy or Elgin travelled with Tropic Air or Maya Air? Be you a San Pedrano, Orange walkeno, Corozaleno, American, Canadian,……it does not matter you got to show an ID, Belizeans show either Voter’s, Social or Drivers Lic, non Belizean usually show passport and that is how they have a list of everyone traveling with them. Why all the hoopla about showing an ID when entering all the different islands, this is to better protect EVERYONE. Like I say if you got nothing to hide then you won’t be afraid. I moved to San Pedro when I was 15 years old and how I wish and how I wish my kids could have the childhood that I had. Again Mr Heredia, had the Bollas to address the issue of crime, we got to do something to protect Belize.
Look one day traveling on the bus up north (home) to see my family, the police went in, the bus was packed jam, I was way at the back reading a book paying no attention to the police check point. The police officer (Creole) came right up to me and said “mek a see u passport” I smile and said “me no travel with passport officer, but if you want see me social security or me voters ID here you go,” the conductor who is from my village immediately came to the police and said, “hey she da Belizean, she da from my village no harass she,” Once again I smiled and told the conductor don’t get mad the officer is doing his job.
Question, should I have screamed racism, I am not Creole and not full Spanish, I so mixed so when anyone says what are you I say Belizean. Why did the police go straight to me? My grandpa he Creole, my grandma she da Maya, my ma she da yellow belly pania, my pa da Maya. I no come out looking like creole or Maya, I am just a beautiful Belizean MAMA with so many cultures combined into one. When I am talking to my friends I talk creole, Maya and Spanish and proper English, just depends on who I’m with
I have enough sense to know that crime has escalated all over the place and something must be done.
you know what…..I am extremely disappointed in my country. When did it become ok to discriminate against ANY ethnic group??? The violence and crime is horrible, no argument there, but how much discrimination and racial profiling should we allow? Is it just and equitable to asuage one form of violence by supplementing it with another form? How far should we allow this to go? It starts with the “Creole” young men who are linked to criminal activity, but where will it end? Soon it will be the entire Creole ethnic group that will end up suffering at the hands of discriminatory treatment.
I am appalled at the fact that a Minister would be the one to make such a comment. Mr. Heredia is out of line. It almost seems as if though i have been sheltered my entire life. Being half Creole and half Hispanic myself has altered my perception of the reality of Belizean life. I was raised to see the beauty in both ethnic groups and identify with both of them. No matter what the reason, discrimination and racial profiling is NEVER a means to an end. The protection of fundamental rights and freedoms is entrenched in our Constitution, the supreme law of our land. Article 16 (1) of the constitution of Belize maintains that no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect and Article16 (2) provides that no person shall be treated in a discriminatory manner by any person or authority.
Its amazing to see the small minded, ignorant people that we elect to government. One thing i’m sure of Mr. Heredia, you are not doing yourself any favors as far as votes in the upcoming elections go, and even more so as far as law suits go. Believe me, i promise you that i will take on as many cases for the violation of human rights and the fundamental rights and freedoms of Belizeans (of any ethnic group) who are victimized by your racial profiling propositions.
Make no mistake sir, I will win.
Shanelle
hey Shanelle i agree with what you said and i just wanted to know, is showing your social security card and voter’s I.D enough to prove your citizenship? or do we really have to carry our passport when travelling our country cause time and again i have been harassed by immigration officers for my passport and that was even after showing my voter’s I.D and i am not a naturalized belizean i was born in belize and both my parents and grand parents were born here, its not my fault that i am a latino and talk with an accent . any way what i really want to ask is for your help becuse the way you wrote it is ovious that you are a lawer and recently i had an experince where we were pulled over by immigration and were harrasssed for papers and my 15 year old sister in law who is a born belizean by the way was detained by them because she could not present a social nor a voter’s id i mean she doesnt work so why should she have social and oviusly she can’t obtain a voter’s id and her passport was one hour away in the village so we had to drive back to the village and come back with the passport so she could be set free. I dont think that is right either so how can i get in contact with you because i was able to get ahold of the officer’s name and i really want to take this matter to court.
Cruz : Your matter sounds serious, please send me your email address at persaudlaw@yahoo.com and i will respond to you via email.
Regards
Shanelle
Scuba Mom: I still disagree with you Queen.Furthermore why are you defending this man.This man is a public figure and should of think before he talks.
Scuba Mom:Just keep the blog coming no hard feeling.
I’ve got an idea.What about using the gang members in Belize to fight the Guatemalans that are settling on our land illegaly
Honourable Mr.Manuel Heredia on the{racist} comment he mentioned -talked about black,this and that and he looks like he forgot that most of his colegues are black even the prime minister{Dean Barrow} another shame.
Now Elgin, we finally agree on something. Have all the gang members in Belize fight the Guatemalans that are settling on our land illegally and saying Belize is for them, better yet lets send all the Gangsters to fight the war and kill the Terrorist at least their time will be occupied and their life time dreams of killing will be fulfilled
We are Belizeans first & Mr Heredia’s statement told the world that we will eat our own if the man tells us to. That’s not b…., that’s ignorance. There are a lot of productive Belizeans at home & abroad & the blood that is now flowing in streets of Belize is all red. Before we start dividing ourselves along racial lines, look at the fear that has gripped even the rural communities. The world is in an economic slump, most of us have had to tighten our belts, that’s life. Brownpride, all of us who are not part of the Belize elite can tell stories about being slighted & at times dehumanized, until we give up that “he or she think he better than me” mindset this foolishness will continue. As a poor child who grew up da Yabra in the 60s & 70s, the hardships shaped who I am. Like John Boy, I live in Cali, I don’t have to eat tortilla with coconut oil & salt anymore & fill the rest of the space with rain water but that child who started High School with two oversized uniforms(so I could grow into them) is still inside me & want the country to do well.
I have exposed my husband & children to our culture with all its warts because we are good people & we are/were more colorblind & tolerant than we realize & believe it or not that is one of the things that most foreigners noticed when they visited, my husband was no different. ScubaMom, I have flown our local airlines, after a horrible experience in ’01 when mr castillo denied me access to my connecting flight after my American Airline flight landed & I missed my father’s funeral, I have chosen to not give them my business & to tell other folks about my experience, that’s what customers do. I have flown to Ambergris Caye & taken the boat to Caye Caulker. Whatever I feel about the way the pilot of tropic air treated me & that it left something to be desired is irrelevant, he was very nice to my husband; whitey. If Chocolate is still around, he was one of the better skippers, I rode his boat a few times. I don’t remember the name of the drunk who shut his engine off halfway to the caye, whipped his —-out & pissed. He didn’t do it because he was Latino, he was a drunken a–h & I complained to the tourist board on the island & when I returned to the city. I was one of the few Belizeans on the boat, had my 6 year old with me, this was not acceptable.
Incidents like these are far more likely to turn off a tourist than a black face on the other side of the room. Clean up the crime & as people begin to have more disposable income, they will spend it in Belize but we do not need scapegoats & certainly do not need a tourism minister who does not have enough sense to think before speaking.
Some San pedranos are racist , Some blacks are racist against each other. Some ex patriots are racist. The San Pedranos keep selling and selling eventually they’ll have to move off the island among the same people they hate or Mexico .The whole country is in a mess, cause there’s nothing in Belize you cant buy everything is for Sale. Unlike other countries who put there people first