Caye Caulker residents hold anti-crime march across island
Hundreds of Caye Caulker residents marched across the island today against the recent spate of violent crimes. The small island is known for its tranquility and charm that attracts tourists, but the residents fear that it is also drawing criminal elements to its shores. Duane Moody joined the march on La Isla Carinosa and has this report.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Hundreds of Caye Caulker residents—including students and stakeholders in the tourism industry, converged at the Central Park on the island to express their discontent with crime and violence. The demonstration comes on the heels of the murder of the island’s Tropic Air Manager, Lorleen Young.
Seleny Villanueva Pott, Board Director, C.C. Neighborhood Watch
“There were instances where they had slit a white lady’s throat in the new site area and there’ve been instances when the tourists have been robbed of their belongings. Then it was when Miss Young met her death in her house. As villagers we live here, this is our home and we want it to feel safe.”
Residents believe that their livelihood and the safety of tourists are at risk.
Diane Auxillou, Owner, Real Estate Company
“Having grown up here all my life, it has always been a safe place where you grow up with your windows open, your doors open and it’s not that way anymore. I’m upset on a large scale because it affects the tourism industry which is out bread and butter. But the most recent incident was a local resident, which affects my heart and not the dollar sign. So in a situation like that it affects all of us and sometimes we lay a lot of focus on the fact that it is tourism or it is about and maybe we do that because that’s the only way government’s attention in helping us to solve the situation.”
Duane Moody
“Do you feel that these recent crimes are actually concocted by people who are not from the island?”
Seleny Villanueva-Pott
“I do agree with you.”
The neighbourhood watch committee is up in arms with the police and in a release on Tuesday, requested the replacement of the team assigned to the island.
Seleny Villanueva-Pott
“It was indeed a strong press release, but with the loss of a community member it was necessary. It’s not an anti-police – that is never our intention – to have anything against the police but what we want is a fresh start. Caye Caulker is so small and we feel that it can easily be controlled if the officers get out there and put in the necessary work with villagers because villagers are willing to help.”
Minister of Tourism, Manuel Heredia, says that he is in full support of the move to replace the officers.
Manuel Heredia, Minister of Tourism
“They have requested that the police be moved and then I am giving my support if that is what they feel can change the issues and the matters over here, then I will support it and I spoke to Ministers of Cabinet yesterday and he did say that they are looking into the matter and as soon as they can identify where they can transfer them over here; it will be done.”
No one has been charged for Young’s murder, and Crime Stoppers Belize, through a donation from Lord Michael Ashcroft, is providing a reward of ten thousand dollars for anyone with information leading to a conviction of the perpetrator or perpetrators.
Lauren Reardon-Smith, Founding Member, Crime Stoppers Belize
“We are here in solidarity that enough is enough and the Board discussed that we would be giving a ten thousand dollar reward to any information leading up to the arrest and conviction of the culprit. The ten thousand dollar donation is being channeled through crime stoppers but it is actually through the generosity of Lord Michael Ashcroft himself. He was the chairman and founding member of Crime Stoppers in the U.K. and he is very much committed to the program. He has given us fifty thousand dollars for high profile rewards of which this is one of them.”
The parade went through the principal streets in the island and returned to the Central Park. Duane Moody, reporting for News Five.
Caye Caulker is not the only municipality in which residents are speaking up. On Saturday musical artists performed at the Enough is Enough Peace Rally on Mahogany Street in Belize City.
