Do you believe hanging should be brought back?
The spate of brazen murders and robberies has the national psyche on edge. Everyone desperately wants something to be done to halt the madness in the streets. Our question for today is ‘Do you believe hanging should be brought back?’ The answer to this question will be presented after the Easter recess in next Tuesday’s newscast. Don’t forget that to participate, all you need to do is to check or e-poll on our webpage at channel5belize.com or text your answers to Smart phones to 8686. You can also send us an e-mail to questions@channel5belize.com.
hanging is to definate a punishment. innocent people can loose their lives on account of bringing it back as none of us are rightful judges. We should do as the bible says, be willing forgivers and help these people turn away from their bad choices. Most may disagree with that statement, but as a christian, i follow fully what the Bible says. Vengeance is for God alone and none of us here on earth!
without a doubt
Yes, I believe hanging or capital punishment should be brought back because with a nation less than one half a milion in population and the crime rate with a very high percent compare to similar population is very outrageous. Every nite I read the news its mostly about roberies and murders.The PM and his ministers don’t read the news or watch it? Forget about human rights ,what about the victims right.
Yes..I do support that hanging be brought back!!!
Most definately hanging should be brought back….but the problem is how would the gov prove that someone commit a crime without forensic Science? Most of the police work is done by Hearysay which i strongly believe should “NOT” be admissable in court. If solid evidence point at the accuse and could be proven beyond a reasonable doubt? Then hanging should be the ultimate punishment….i’m a Law Enforcement student in the US and many time i wish my native country ‘BELIZE’ had some of the rights as American do, like the suspect should have the right to remain silent anything you say can n will be use against you in the court, have the right to face your accuser, witnesses, the right to a speedy trial, the right if the suspect can not afford an attorney one would be appointed to the suspect, the right to a due process, show proof of a search warrant to the person who own a house that is about to be search, i could go on and on but i strongly oppose my opinion on hanging and if some changes could be change in the law for police offiicer’s on how to do their job and become one with the community they should protect and serve? crime would go down…..obviously there’s not enough patrol on the streets and lack of officer’s presence’s play a big part in why criminals are so ‘BOLD’ with their criminal activity because they could and will get away with it….one of the big thing that should be enforce first is the credibility of a police officer’s written report….if you hire corrupt mentality cop the streets will become corrupted….I’ll shut up for now…lol….all i could say is that am glad i’m pursuing my law enforcement career in the US.
DEFINATELY HANGING SHOULD BE BROUGHT BACK. THE CRIMINALS HAVE MORE RIGHTS THAN CIVILIANS AND HAVE NO RESPECT FOR AUTHORITY.
we need to get the streets safe again.maybe a open hanging would
deter the crime rate in our beloved country.
Yes, I believe that hanging should be brought back in Belize as that is the only way that crime will go down. Belize used to be a nice country to live but now the crime rate has gone up so high that i, who is a Belizean by birth but live in the UK, is afraid to go anywhere in Belize when i go to visit. The police are of no help as they too are corrupt because they want more monies and they go along with it. The Minister of Security Carlos Perdomo needs to resign as he doesn’t know anything about security. He was a teacher at Belize Junior Sec ages ago and i believe he has no idea of running the security for Belize.
Everyday i read the news and listen to the radio over the internet and what you hear is happening over there is very serious. How in the world will we get foreign investment if even when tourist come over to belize they get killed or mugged? I don’t even want to go back and settle there because of the fear of being killed on the street or now even in your own home.
It is time for Belizeans to wake up and do something that will help the country on a whole, BRING BACK CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, hang them as they don’t think about what families go through when they kill their loved ones.
Look at one of the islands in the caribbean they brought back hanging and since then crime in their country has gone down. Not that it will completely get rid of it but it will lower the crime rate by a lot.
I say bring it back and hang them as they are no good for our society and for Belize.
First of all, hanging didn’t deter crime 100 years ago, and it won’t work now. Second, what will re-instituting capital punishment do if the police can’t catch the criminals in the first place? The conviction rate is depressing. We should talk about catching criminals before we talk about the punishment! That’s where we need to start. Improve the police force. Teach them how to question people, how to follow up on leads; train people in forensics. The Belizean people need to do their part as well! Several people know who the murders, thieves and drug dealers are. Come forward! I have faith in my people. There is still time to turn things around.
I believe that all these criminals including the corrupt Cops should be executed.I am a 100% in favor of Capital Punishment.
Start with the crooked cops, hangem high in the public, so everybody can see something is being done, 3 stricks and and a person can meet God in person, and he can tell God why he hurt other people.
I believe what should be brought back is family values and family discipline. We have strayed too far away from God. Family is the first institution of education for every individual. Parents need to get to REALLY know God and teach their children about God. Jesus said,”Love one another as I have love you”. A little goes a long way people. What we need is love. not condemnation. Do unto others as you would like them to do unto you. Peace out!
I don’t believe that hanging should be brought back as capital punishment! There are a lot of innocent people…I believe they are already being punished by being imprisoned. I think that the best way is for everyone to get down on their knees and pray to God! Pray for Belize and it’s people!
besides if you hang someone, their family might come after you….God is the “ONLY” solution…the people of Belize needs Jesus…the leaders and government are not exempt!
It does not matter what anyone does whether murder,steal,rape,lie,sex of marriage etc or whether they hold a high position in the country…God is the judge. If you ask God to forgive for whatever sin you’ve committed He will. God says in His word “vengeance is mine and I will repay says the Lord”
If God is for you, who can be against you?…..Jesus said “I will NEVER leave you NOR forsake you”
It is reasonable to assume that if a majority is in favour of a particular thing in a democracy, their wishes should be seriously considered and be executed.
Which criminals should we hang? The murderer’s, the rapist, the thieves, the drug traffickers, which of these horrible classes of people should be hanged, or sent to jail?
In a small country like Belize hanging could be disastrous, is the court system any good? Are the skills of the defence lawyers any good at all?
Is the system working any at all? If “yes” then why are there so many repeated offenders in that country?
Remember the police department cannot even find nor preserved DNA, or physical evidence to save their lives, or yours, Remember the cops are also criminals.
Capital punishment permanently removes the worst criminals from society and should prove much safer for the rest of us, “Hanging” is a very real punishment and this would There may be a brutalising effect upon Belize by carrying out this king of justice.
Genuinely innocent people will be executed and that there is no possible way of compensation for this miscarriage of justice.
Hanging can be controversial, but the real issue is teaching people the value of life and the best way to teach it is as Jesus said, a true friends lays down his life for another. If I was the corrupt police officer, I would beg the Prime Minister to please command me to be hung in front of all of Belize to see!! This would get the people back in touch with life. When a poor hungry man steals so he can buy bread to eat is one thing, BUT WHEN A “LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER” STARTS TO LEAD CRIME, AND HAVE PEOPLE SCARED TO DEATH, ROBBED AND KILLED!! … MY GOD!! THERE IS NO GRANDMOTHER IN BELIZE THAT SHOULD HAVE ANY PITY ON SUCH A PERSON…HAND HIM HIGH!!!! PLEASE MR. BARROW – DO US THE FAVOR AND DO YOUR PART TO BRING THE FEAR OF GOD BACK INTO BELIZE!! YOUR JOB MAY BE HARD BUT IT IS SIMPLE!!
GOD…… GOD didn’t tell these people to go out and take someone life, GOD gave us the understanding of right and wrong, and these bad people that goes and take someone elses life, know its wrong, and had all the intent to do so, and that is why we have LAW and the law makers the same people GOD gave understanding to, knows what is best for these bad people that go around taking other people lives. And if hanging is what they get for taking someone elses life well so be it. You said that they are being punished in prison, let see how that is. My brother EDWARD aka (bones) was stab four times back in 1999 for walking home one friend of his and a friend and the other, who by the way he never met before that night,and doing so met his death, because of a jealous boyfriend that didn’t ask question first. See if he did, he would know that my brother didn’t know his gril friend, but that night he was GOD and he was my brother maker he took my brother’s life. And a large number of people saw him do it. He SPEND ONE year in prison, oh just on reman and out free as a bird. Is that punishment enough for him to take another life. I will not rest until he get’s the death penalty for taking my brother’s life never.
Yes, I believe we need it. But it has to be reserved for when there is absolutely no shadow of doubt on the guilt. How much is a life worth? A life! Brazen criminals are receiving a message that they can do these wicked things and get away with it! We are living in the results of people not loving and doing what’s right! We ALL simply need to love and do what’s RIGHT, just because it’s RIGHT! That’s true respect for God, law & order, and each other.
I do believe in God however do you know what the reality is?Our brothers and sisters are being killed everyday also remember that God help those who helps themselves which means that prayer alone is not going to bring a solution to this problem.We as a people got to act.And i do believe that if atleast two of these guys are executed the crime rate is going to decrease.The reason for the escalating crime rate in our beautiful Jewel is that these criminals realize that they’ve got most of our Belizean Citizens intimidated and if you don’t believe look at the conviction rate.And the reason for this is witness intimidation.Lets execute a couple of these thugs and i can gurantee that the crime rate will decrease.If not i am going to agree with you Liz but until then i am 100% in support of Capital punishment.These guys don’t care about taking someone else’s life Why are you so sympathetic .
lets not hang, just the lethal injection would do.
Hanging, may be a bit too barbaric and might over step and undermine the entire justice system itself. BUT, I most certainly believe these convicted murders and rapists should be punished much harsher than “throwing them back-a-hattieville”, where they will serve time, be fed and given shelter only to be released eventually. These people need to be taught a good, HARD lesson. And they need to understand that ultimately they are only making life harder for their very same Belizean brothers and sisters. We cannot continue to steal from each, murder each other and do harm to one another, and expect that anything positive will come from it. Belize has the potential to be a great nation with all of its resources and smaller population. Too many crimes are being committed with no answers. This cannot continue. These people need to be reminded that we are PEOPLE and not ANIMALS and you cannot commit a crime without SERIOUS consequences.
I believe hanging should be brought back. It should be an open hanging where the public can witness it if they wish to do so. It may not stop the crime and violence but it will definately slow it down. As a christian I agree that GOD is the solution and that Belize needs JESUS but we as citizens have to live like prisioners in our own homes and when we are out on the streets we have to be looking over our shoulders and that shouldn’t be. I believe these criminals are competing with each other to see who kills the most people. Their family might come after whoever but what happens to those young innocent men that have been killed for no reason at all. What about their families? They have to grieve for their loss which is not fair. There are a lot of us who are praying to GOD but as Belizeans we have to take a stand to bring back our BELIZE to a safe place to live in. The criminals will think twice before planning to commit another crime. Some of our criminals commit crimes so that they can go to prison cause that is the only place they can call home. The prison officials need to stop treating these murders like kings and let them do some hard labour. They just go to prison to get fat and live good.
Time for praying has passed! God does not intervene in these situations, and he never will. If he could, he would have recognized the injustice long ago and stopped it. If there is anything that my years have taught me, it’s that God does not fix problems that God did not solve! We, as a people, need to take responsibility. God did not put children into impoverished homes with broken families. God did not cause these children to have terrible childhoods, surrounded by guns and drugs. God was not the influence for any of these criminals and crooked cops. These are all problems that we, as one Belizean community, need to fix. We can look to God for guidance, but praying will not help the situation. Praying for an end to these problems is like praying for God to hand feed us. God has given us the tree, but WE need to pick its fruit and feed ourselves. That being said, I still do not advocate capital punishment. It did not work for hundreds of years, and thats why they saw the need to change the system. Our generation is in bad shape, but if we learn, we can create a better future. We must stop cussing the government, because no matter how good any minister is, we should NEVER expect handouts in this life. Let us take responsibility and take back our country!
I think hanging should come back, I am a law enforcer and a lot of time i hear criminals say ” i’ll just go spend a year and come back for the rest of the family”. that’s very bad to hear, hanging would be better than to have people and their family worrying what will happen to them, and the SYSTEM isn’t working and we all can see that. So what the government should do is just get upgrade with the DNA and forensic issue cause here in Belize we don’t have a damn thing and the Government is not doing nothing to make it any better. HANG THEM HIGH and all should be better after a while.
YES… in bold and caps because for me it’s the only reason that people will think twice to commit crimes or other malicious acts. But on the other hand there might be those who are innocent and wrongfully charged, then maybe the hanging could come into play when hard evidence is found to prove the individual guilty.
I think something should be in place to show these thugs that there is justice and they cannot keep killing people for no apparent reason.If they keep this up and they are caught they will me their creator. So if this will help curb all this maddness …ABSOLUTELY
Yup put them down like the dogs they are…..they are not fit for society and never will be. Hang them high i say until their legs stopp wiggling and thie necks pop.
No civilized country hang criminals.How could you say killing is wrong, but at the same time justify killing by the goverment.Life in prison makes more sence, because if we inprison the wrong person we could always correct that error.if you hang the wrong person you can’t un hang him.
Capital punishment is much needed, and the concerned human right activists ought to pay attention to victim’s right. How would you feel if such aweful crimes happen to you and your family? Would you be all bible loving while they slaughter your love ones and shoot your kids in school?
Down to the bottom, Belize NEEDS to change and accept newer terms in its legal system. For example, while police encourage businesses to install cameras, but what’s the use when our courts DO NOT accept multimedia in as evidences. ONLY at times, when judges feel like it, they accept but relatively weaker because of the quality. First of all, all cameras out there are like that, and only probably casinos get to have expensive ones that can zoom up to couple hundred times. No fancy CIA-quality camera in regular households. It seems that judges need to study about new technologies just like doctors keep up with new medications, not just stick to their old outdate books from school. We are no longer colony, and such laws can and should be modify to modern standards. I don’t think you want a doctor to operate on you with only soap and water cleaning of your skin!
Old-fashioned hanging can also be replaced by lethal injection or shooting after anesthesia, which the latter can also be a source of consent organ donation. Speaking of giving people chances, these death row can also benefit a few terminal patients with new lives! Mr. Cruz and many others will not need to be amputated of their fingers and relive with new kidneys.
Just some thoughts for my folks.
How will the Belizean people help, when they are being threaten by the criminals. The bible also says “An Eye for An Eye.” One Hundred years ago we did’nt have this volume of crime in Belize. We might have had a lovers spat killling now and then maybe once every five year or so, and that would be big news. Hanging was a reason back then why people respect the law. I agree the parents have a lot to do with these children not respecting society today. In our days we had to respect for everybody in Belize. Another bad thing is that T.V. we never had Tv in our days, we went outside and play: Marble, raise Kites, roll hook, play top, hide and seek, swimming, form singing groups, track and field and a host of other activities. The policemen were lovers, chasing the girls, not committing crimes so, people this is a different time in paradise. I am longing to come back to Belize to settle down but, it is leaving a crime ridden country for another, what make you think the american scene will work in Belize, it’s not even working in america.
The murderers didn’t have any mercy or sympathy on those who they have slautered…..why should i have any sympathy for them when it should be their turn? I say lets start the hanging….and i’m definitely sure it would prove a point to the rest…especially the up and coming youths. You people better stop looking at the glass half full and start to get the sense that this crime situation won’t just miraculously up and vanish from society. Its gonna get worse if something drastic like hanging isn’t done soon to ease the violence…..the poeple are fed up and are thirsty for blood. Like the saying goes …an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth….
Yes, i have been singing such! CAPITAL PUNISHMENT all the way!
We really need capital punishment or hanging to be brought ,but with so much corrupt police officer and government officials its going to be hard,maybe an inocent person could be killed, we cannot trust.And worst under this arrogant UDP.
Fact no evidence that capital punishment is an effective deterrent. And it’s not that Belize can’t hang it’s that the Privy Council decision in Pratt and Morgan, and the Belizean case of R v. Reyes. Belize’s constitution partial saving clauses gave the Privy Council room to find construction. So should Belize hang? I don’t think it should be a decision base emotion responding to crime but national decision base on our values that reflect Belizean reality.
praies would do no good .because they keep on murdering people and get away with it i have two on solve murder in my family.
It seems that the criminal element in the society takes the law for a joke. How insane that the criminals can simply play the game of killing people and proudly without any regards for the law assume they will go free. Because they do go free. The use the scare tactic and threaten anyone or anybody who they believe will turn them in. The law needs to be change. Please do think about this and do something about it for the sake of our fellow country man.
As much as I’d personally want to volunteer to hang some of those criminals who have hurt the innocent…God is the only one who can give life – thus He’s and only He has the right to take away life. Praying for my country Belize!
Liz…. I agree and I think that the Churches have failed us. They fail to reach out and spread the word and now you see what we have. All things are possible with GOD!!!!!
In this day and age, hanging should with no doubt be brought back. Belize need to show the criminals who is in charge, for they have no respect for the innocent civilians. I believe that the hanging should begin with the police who is accused of being the mastermind of the robberies/murdered that occured in social security and scotia bank.
AS AN INNOCENT BELIZEAN, PLEASE BRING BACK HANGING. ITS THE ONLY HOPE FOR OUR COUNTRY BECAUSE GOVERNMENT SEEM TO BE CONFUSED AS TO WHAT SHOULD BE DONE!!!
Correction – I meant to say: God does not fix problems that God did not cause.
Belize is a wonderful country, full of beauty . I am a born Belizean, yet not of the ethnic group of that of most Belizeans.Nevertheless, I highly respect my fellow people and highly regard them. We are one Belizean family with pride. Do we want to preserve that pride? It is at stake. Over the time, we all become vulnerable to the attacker and murderer, human rights exercises their functions with good ground, but who, at the end of the day is protected the most? Most certainly the murderer. I maintain and reiterate,—if we will proceed in this way the murderer is most protected. This is very tragic. I am also a God fearing person, respecting the Bible,and I believe, most of us people of Belize do.
the Bible tells us very clearl y that, whoever kills with the sword (gun) has to be killed with the sword.
Yes, the people of Belize need Jesus, but there are deputy authorities that have the responsibilities to judge the evildoer. Of course, this is not meant for the Christians to execute, but clearly, for the country to be safe,there has to be a strict judgement. I have heard that in the past, in Canada, they had a serial women murderer, who eventually had been caught. That one was hanged, and on a structure, was openly taken through the streets of the city, to frighten the rest. That had certainly prevented more crime to develop. May the Lord bless Belize, and instill in the leaders a fear of God
CG, I think you lost! The voices of concerned Belizeans have spoken and I would have to agree with them. Obviously “God” is not doing anything to help prevent the loss of innocent lives and he could judge them after the people made their decision on whether or not that individual should live or not. Violence is escalating in Belize and people are scared to leave their houses to go and buy the basic necessities for their families. The people of Belize needs to stand up and get the attention of our weak Prime Minister who is not focusing on the real detrimental issues that is occurring in Belize. Belize is on its way on becoming a country that will self inflict itself with a wound that will hurt tourism in which will damage the people that depend on that source of income. Don’t arbitrate by race but judge on what crime was committed.
i don”t think that hanging is the response since we lack a lot of tech. to prove ones participation or not . i do belive in shoot to kill if found in the act then shoot to kill. like other nations we are suffering of fear to be in our own homes. we work an pay high taxes just to have the basterds eat drink and sleep good with gards while we shiver in fear. so rather that feeding them shoot them on the spot.
I am amazed how many people have faith in the judicial system to bring back hanging in Belize.Some people are even willing to compromise human rights.I am anti-crime , but I am pro-human rights.Once you give up one right,you have opened the door to give up more rights.Becareful what you ask for,you might just get.I know a lot of people are prejudice and are willing to judge and convict without a trial.Is that the kind of country you guys are willing to live in.What happen to innocent untill proven guilty,what happen to the judicial process.Hanging a person should not be an over night thing.There is a trial, an appeal process which take years, and all this cost tax payers money, and what if you found out later that you excecuted an innocent person.What if that person is you , or your child.This is just food for thought.
yes you need to bring back the hanging penalty , for any one commiting murder and cut the hands off of anyone stealing, if this is not done belize will be doomed , because crime will only get worse since all the gangs from mexico and guatemala are moving down south come on belizeans wake up and smell the roses they arent roses any more its the smell of death your mother and father or brother and sister or your sons and daughters might be the next vitim stop following the laws in the us thats why they are going down hill fast bring back the hanging penalty. and witnesses should be allowed to put on mask if they have to testify in a murder trial dont let them walk out.
YOU have to catch them first AND then you need a conviction (not a ongoing investigation) do we ever get to here what happens to these on going investigations ?? what happens to these people who walk the streets? they cant be found because there is not enough resources to properly convict them !!!!!!! First we need to invest in some crime solving then ways to make the conviction stick and then punish them the various crimes should have different punishments ( re crimes against children… they should be put out in public in stanchions so the people could see them and if they last 24 hrs then they need the death penalty…. crime against women should be branded as an offender….. police should be proud to be who they are.
I know not all are good but don’t punish the good because you cant find out about the bad…Promote honesty and not the criminal, let the public vote on the punishment ballot every election and see what happens to crime. the general public is the backbone of Belize and should have a say in what happens
positive.. that hanging should be brought back. with in ancient times . hanging and capital punishment … was the main punishment to keep law and order…. since nowadays. the society is corrupt this punishment should be brought back. even if the catholic religion is mainly base on humanitarian rights …. the society is really getting out of hand. and this would wake up the people to think twice or even more before committing a crime
This is for Liz. We do need to bring back hanging into our country to make the jack-asses them understand that they cannot get away with murder. The innocent ones will only get to Heaven much sooner, and God will accept them with open arms. I had a family member that was killed by her common law husband while she was pregnant in 1991. She left behind then four little young girls from ages 2 thru 6. This idiot is still walking free in Belize after spending a little time, has not contacted or maintain his surviving children, and act as if nothing happened. Liz, I can tell you first hand how It has affected my life and the lives of my family for the rest of our natural lives. Until you walk a step in my shoe, then you can talk to me or others that are suffering from the violent lost of a love one. To our government, “hang dem ra-s and wi wah pray fu dem laytah”. Liz, you could seh weh you want, wi gwein back to di Old Testament, an eye for an eye”.