Do you think tougher measures…required to control the gangs?
Only last week Wednesday, the government launched Restore Belize, an initiative to arrest crime. But two days earlier, Rodwell Williams, the Prime Minister’s law partner was shot; bringing crime dangerously close to home for the PM. The shooting happened at the same time that Operation Jaguar was in full force. This morning, the daring murder of a south side gang leader took place close to the court buildings signaling the perilous state of affairs. So we ask the question: Do you think that tougher measures are now required as a matter of renewed urgency to control the gangs? Send your comments and responses using your SMART phones to 8686 or post your vote on our e-poll at channel5belize.com. You can also send an e-mail with your comments to questions@channel5belize.com.
I strongly believe that crime and murder is an accepted way of life in our city. People feel that it is okay to kill others. The prime minister is making a lot of administrative changes but no plan to tackle crime at the source which is our mentality. Only way this can be changed is through our disorganized court system. It is a shamed that the sector with the most educated persons of the country seems to be the most disorganized and ineffective. Harsher sentences are necessary to effect in our mentality that there will be a tough consequence for crime. That is the only way. Likewise prison life needs to get tougher. Have them grow vegetables and work. All we have to do is think of a child and how you teach a child right from wrong. The harsher the punishments are on a mischievous child the less likely they will do it.
Unfortunately the country is under a heavy weight of negative energies. Because little is known about how we are affected by from the energies of others we are unable to defend ourselves from the effect. To understand the reality of the effect of suttle energies, we only need to reflect on our reaction when see someone crying, laughing or looking sad. Another way to judge the energies we give off is the suttle mode of the environment on a Sunday or holidays., all due to the state of minds that influence the environment.
Different sounds causes different effect on our central nervous systems, and heaven knows, the citizens of Belize are getting more of their share of unpleasant loud sounds of crazy so-call music that is doing great harm to the youths. It is a well established fact that sciantist has discoverd how plants as well as water react to the type of words that are been directed at them, unfortunatly due to ignorance we are unaware of the negative vibration we put in motion from negative words as well as thoughts. These are cosmic laws that we cannot change, therefore so-call tougher measure will only produce more negative vibrations, that will results in more negative reaction. By design fom our creator, we are physical. spiritual, and emotional;(intelectual). Like the physical body, if one organ is out of order the whole body suffers, like it or not. So how can we neglect the spiritual self and expect to be a whole person?
Unfortunate tougher measures do NOT guarantee success, it only gives the police the right to stop anyone they deem suspicious and sad to say but the police dept. is not known for its PR towards the general public. That’s why the ppl have no faith in them and refuse to cooperate in most cases. What we need is true leadership from the top and we don’t have that as it is right now, the only thing we are given is Operation Jaguar and Restore Belize but they don’t seem to come up with real solutions to the problems affecting us as a country only fancy names.
I agree with Anonymous. Have them grow vegetables.
I believe that the laws are already there, they just need to be enforced. What Lawmakers need to do is put something in place where if you are a known gang member/criminal you are held on remand pending your trial, no bail will be allowed. As many people suggested the three strikes law comes into play. I guess we will need to build bigger prisonsbecause many of the criminals on the street at this time have charges that can fill a filing cabinet. The prisoners already plant their own vegetables, they need to be sentenced to hard time.
Maybe we should build a second prison just for the three strikers.
To Manford: I agree with you completely.
As a former Law Enforcement Officer & B.D.F. Specialist Soldier, and not to mention National Youth President of the U.D.P. I believe I am in a “SUGESTIVE, or KNOW POSITION” to comment on this matter.
I am presently residing in New York City, USA. where I am married & raising a Family.
I thought it is long “over due” of me, to lend my thought’s and insight into this “crime wave” that is sweeping our Be-Loved Jewel, called Belize.
First and Foremost, there has to be a Dialogue with the Law Enforcement Departments, and the Street Gang Elements of the Belizean Society at Large.
Direct Pro-Active Approach and Interaction, with the Suspected Gang Leaders:
THIS IS A TWELVE STEP APPROACH:
(1). The Law Enforcement in their various Departments , need to Enguage these Suspected Leaders.
(2). Find out exactly what is it that is Lacking in their Society among their Peers.
(3). Stop; the Muscled In Approach, Enguage them with a Polite but Stern and Meaningful Approach.
(4). If you can get them to Organize, and Sit Down, for a One on One Interaction.
(5). You MUST Forego, that Old Approach of Bringing the Leaders of the Bloods & Crips together of the ’90’s, then do Nothing with them or for them, after that Initial Meeting.
(6). Government need’s to seek International Funding, or Integrate Local Business Leaders from the Community Sectors, from all Six Districts within the Country, and Support an Initiative to Create Employment within the Poorest Comminities, where these Gangs are Notorious and Crimes are Prevalent.
(7). Create A few Training and Vocational Centers within these Poor Communities, Staff them with Volunteers, Providing a Small Stipend to Facilitate Training and Learning Incentives.
(8). Interfaced and Sustaine Continous Dialogue with those Gang Members, that Portray an Honest and Sincere Interest in Integrating back into a Productive Society.
(9). Initiate a Proactive Analysis to the “Ills,” that are affecting these Youth, within their Community where they Live, such as Education, Job needs, Recreation & Rehabilitation.
(10). Devise a Proven Strategy that will Work, and take Cationary Steps in Introducing it as an A,B,C, Approach.
(11). Government must Validate, this new Strategy within (09) days, and Place Special Emphasis on the Pros & Cons of the Program.
(12). Again, we must Reliaze, that “hard knock approach,” while it may Achieve “short term goals,” will only Lend to Retaliation and Resentment within our Youth Communities.
If I can be of any help, to lend my Support through any Medium at any given time, I would be more that Happy to do so, for the Sake of our Youth & Country .
Regards:
(917) 889-0039
smlion3@netzero.com
smlion3@yahoo.com
Very well put together. You have brought valid points and I believe this can work. But how can we convince the “know it all” politicians that run our country on giving it a try?
What about the youths who wish not to reintegrate into society? Those who choose not to work? Its true jobs are scarce but there are jobs. Most of them just choose not to work hard. They prefer the easy way. How many of these trouble youths would consider going to reap oranges or cut cane? How many of them would consider farming as an option or cutting people’s yards for a living?
I say, collect all the gangsters, give them an option to opt for an honest living and those who don’t, imprison them on terrorist charges. They pose a threat on everyone, locals and tourist.