Friends of murder victim to demonstrate against violence in the capital

nigel petillo

The murder of Aubrey Lopez has sent shockwaves in Belize City and in the Capital.  Lopez has made many friends over the years, some of whom consider him a brother. He is also a well known basketball player and was the captain and team leader of the Belmopan Bandits, which is the leader in the current basketball tournament. The Belize Basketball Association today issued an emotional release, calling him “a big man amongst wee men”. And as the rotting decay of society’s morals and the violence continues, the Belize Grassroots Youth Empowerment Association is staging a protest tomorrow at the assembly building in Belmopan.  The association’s president, Nigel Petillo, says that the group invites the public to join them in the peaceful demonstration to remind the country’s leaders that more innocent blood is being spilled while they try to figure out how to control crime.

Via Phone: Nigel Petillo, Pres., Bze Grassroots Youth Empowerment Assn.

“Aubrey Lopez was more than a brother, he was like a hero to me. He was more than just—he’s lived a life more than just for himself. He has been living for the community. Aubrey dah wah national sports hero in his community. The Belize Grassroots Youth Enhancement Association; me, Nigel Petillo as the president, and the group will be holding a peaceful demonstration tomorrow morning at the steps of the National Assembly building to show our concern and express our feelings towards the crime issues in our community. It has been affecting us for some time now and we’re calling on the minister, Carlos Perdomo and Commissioner of Police Crispin Jeffries and the leaders of the youth department to come out and let’s discuss issues and put together preventative measures so that we can alleviate the crime rate that is affecting lives today in this country. We’re simply asking that if it has been too hard for you guys to do then include other people from the community and let’s find a way, an amicable solution to solve all this problem that we are having today. We have lost a hero, we have lost other brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers in the violence. And for some time now it has to stop. So I’m calling on the Belizeans people tomorrow morning; the people in Belmopan, Camalote, Mothers Against Crime, I’m calling on you people too to come out. Cola, Mr. Moses Sulph, come out tomorrow. Let’s stand up in solidarity and express to the government that the crime rate is killing us.”

Petillo says that the demonstration will start at eight a.m.