Anti-crime press conference postponed after death threats
allen sutherland
A climate of fear is pervading the streets of the City tonight, and it is anticipated that more violence will erupt following a slew of shootings that ended in the murder of Marques Mahler and Calvin Graham late last week. Earlier today, a scheduled anti-crime event was called off when one of the leading organizers received a threat, which she is not taking lightly. Joan Sutherland is the mother of a Belize City youth who was fatally stabbed in November of 2006. Her son, eighteen year old Allen Sutherland, was killed four years ago in an altercation reportedly over a videogame. On March second the accused murderer, Kent Pandy, was acquitted due to a lack of witness testimony. Sutherland, along with other grieving mothers, joined forces earlier this year to form Belizeans for Justice. The organization was on the eve of hosting a follow-up meeting on the current state of crime when it was forced to postpone the conference because of the anonymous death threat received at Sutherland’s doorstep early this morning.
Joan Sutherland, Member, Belizeans for Justice
joan sutherland
“I usually left my house between seven thirty and eight o’clock so between those time I opened my door, walked on the verandah and walking on the verandah I saw a plastic bag on the floor so I bent over and picked it up. I opened it and I saw there is a white paper in it and when I see it there’s some flowers in it. I open the note, the paper and this was the writing in it that said “I know who you are and what you do in the committee but I deal with the small fish first. RIP.” So I, I called my daughter, I woke her up and I said this is what I found on the verandah and she said for me to call Ms. Shakron. I joined this group Belizeans for Justice and Ms. Shakron said, told me what to do then and I went to the police station. I reported it, got a copy of the note and now here I am on Channel Five, you know. I don’t know what is the reason why or what they have in mind. I’m not scared for myself, I’m only scared for my daughter and my grandbaby that lives with me. I joined Belizeans for Justice cause I lose one of my sons in 2006 and the guy walked free. I can’t pinpoint and say it’s them which in they request that I’m in the committee so I guess it’s because I’m fighting for justice. But whatsoever they send to me or do to me I won’t stop fighting for justice. I know I can’t bring back my son but I can help; a mother don’t feel the pain that I am feeling right now.”
According to Yolanda Shakron, a founding member of Belizeans for Justice, the threat indirectly named her as both women work closely together in the organization and it is widely known that she is the chairperson. The conference was scheduled for Wednesday at the Radisson but has been postponed for security reasons until further notice.
WHAT HAPPENED???????? THE POLICE CAN’T PROTECT THEM???????? W.T.F.??? MR. SINGH NEEDS TO START DANCING NOW TOO. MAYOR MOYA……. GET OFF YOUR A___ AND DO SOMETHING!!! MR. PRIME MINISTER………. WHERE THE HE_ _ ARE YOU???? THE POLICE COMMISIONER…… WHERE IS HE??? WE NEED ACTION FROM OUR POLITICIANS …………………………NOW!!!!!! PUP…………….STEP UP!!!!!
Wake up my Belizean people let’s come together canceling this press conference is like telling these idiots that they are incharge.There is no such thing as anonymous phone call.Every phone call can be trace back to someone.Come on Mr Barrow start doing something for the Belizean people.I can’t believe that these criminals have our people living in fear.
Don’t let these cowards instill fear in you, Unity is strength if you continue to show weakness then these criminals will prevail. Go ahead and continue your conference as planned, that way you will prove that you believe in your cause.
He is nothing more than a piece of …, he is watching the news right now and enjoying the pleasure your misery is giving to him.
I think belize need more brave women like yourself, women who are not afraid to stand up nor die for what they believe in, and if you quit now the criminals win.
Doing any job requires inspiration, no matter how menial it may seem. let justice reign in your heart for your son, and those that lost their lives innocently to the street war in Belize.
Now, how do we catch this person?
Be well Joan…
Where was Mr Barrow when these Women from the Belizean for Justice organization canceled their press conference as a result of a threat.You made provisions to meet with the gang members.Why couldn’t you have done thesame for these Women?You are a part of the problem shame on you.
please don’t tell me the gasgsta people are in control of the city, please don’t tell me that.
What Jeffries should do is line up all them person affiliated with crime and gangs and shot them mada …., case done we go back to a peaceful community!! Anybody want to give trouble again line them up and shot dem !!!!!
Eradicate the pests of Belize City where most call home
Its is easy for us to encourage this mother but she is the one in front of the media, so she is the one who stands to loose. I admire her but also understand her actions. She is thinking like a mom should, to protect the rest of her family. We should focus our attention to the fact, that because of bad police work or simply because we can so easily pay for a “police case file” to disappear, so many criminals are out on the streets. This is just one case which made it to the news…there are so …so many other cases that do not get the attention of the media but the criminals with one phone call make the case files disappear or get the witnesses not to talk. Indeed our Police Department needs a total make over
This is much bigger than just random gangs and gun violence. Think? why are these
criminals allowed to walk? Because they work for your so called leader. They are nothing
but hired killers working for (certain governments) to cause havoc amongst the
people to create distractions and fears. Governments, police department, courts systems these
people are robing the wealth of that country along with these international investors. You
people have more power than you think you have, you see the evil of your elected officials.
Stop voting for them, stop supporting their wicked political agendas. Come together, Come together, our future children are dying. Chase these political parasites out of town with their mind control tactics. Power to the people YHWH El Elyon
Private citizens with legal guns should organize and offer protection. If the police can’t protect us we must…….. must stand up and protect ourselves. Mayor Moya got off your fat a___ and do something…….. take to the streets and let the city know that you are with them in the struggle…… are you??????????????
Women for Justice Organization is doing a possitive thing in our country, however cancelling your conference will only show these spineless thugs that they are in control.Women continue on your mission for Justice, be Unified and stand firm. May God help our Country as the People in authority dont seems to be able to.
Where are the husbands of these women? They fraid too? Support the positive work these women are doing. The Police should back them up and provide patrols around their houses to prevent attacks on them.
You all voted U D P ever since they take over Belize became a war zone no matter how many police is on the street you have a few JACKASS tha will never stop what they are doing because they are part of the police departmant so the killing will not end .STOP THE SHOOTING will never end All police need the US to do a 10 year back ground check with high tech equipment most of these polise join the force to get back at there enemy of 10 years the only way to get back at them is to join the police force the war in Belize will not end untill certain people leave office soon you will not want to walk on the street these guys will not stop the hatred they have among each other and the good go with the bad you all need the tactical forse of the US too many family members in the police dept have enemy as i stated for 10 years and no they find an easy way out to kill or be kill
Some of the husbands are a part of the criminal elements,hence the reason some of them are afraid to step to the plate.
What is going on with Belize, this is getting out of hand, what is the prime minister doing about this? Come on People who should we blame for this, the government, the people, who should we balme for this crimes in Belize.
I believe that when there is poverty, bab government, no jobs vicitimization, people not working together and greed for power is the result of crime.
We need to change the Judiciary system, the government, the police
I see this letter as being “Extremely Disturbing” in that it does not seem to be “Personally Directed”, or the ranting of “One Individual” , but rather it seems to be based on an idealogy or manifesto perpitrated by a Secret Organization intent on establishing choas. In Chaos…. Organised Crime and criminals working for then flourish! They get rich, very Rich and they maintain power and control through spreading Fear… The system ” Law and Order” becomes inbalanced and they take advantage and exploit it. Remenissent to Nazi’s philosophy of spreading fear and making the country vulnurable and that way they were able to do what ever the wanted and they did. Furthermore this letter was indirectly directed to the organization ” Belizeans for Justice” . In parting, Belize is unique in Political based and control criminal organizations. Food For Thought!
I see this letter as being “Extremely Disturbing” in that it does not seem to be “Personally Directed”, or the ranting of “One Individual” , but rather it seems to be based on an idealogy or manifesto perpitrated by a Secret Organization intent on establishing choas. In Chaos…. Organised Crime and criminals working for them flourish! They get rich, very Rich and they maintain power and control through spreading Fear… The system ” Law and Order” becomes inbalanced and they take advantage and exploit it. Remenissent to Nazi’s philosophy of spreading fear and making the country vulnurable and that way they were able to do what ever they wanted and they did. Furthermore, this letter was indirectly directed to the organization ” Belizeans for Justice” . In parting, Belize is unique in Political based and controled criminal organizations. Food For Thought!
THIS MEETING SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN CANCELED. THEY SHOULD HAVE THE MEETING, FORM AN ARM POSSE AND GO HUNTING.
THERE IS STRENGTH IN NUMBERS. GO AND RUN THEM OUT OF TOWN OR IN THE GROUND WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. IF ANYONE GET IN THE WAY, EVEN THE POLICE BECAUSE THEY ARE IN ON IT, STEP ON THEM TOO.
In these days and time when you receive a death threat you MUST take it seriously. While I support the efforts of these women and agree that canceling could show weakness we must put ourselves in the shoe of this brave woman. Like she says not afraid of her own life but protecting those that she has left. We can have hours upon hours of debate on how to fix the problem but as long as we only think and talk nothing is going to happen. We need to act. Out of the 80,000 or so in Belize City I think not even 1% (which would be high figure) is involved in the gang violence so that leaves only a small fraction of people to deal with. The problem is that going to prison is like going a a retreat – food, shelter and clothing all provided with the false pretense of reform. Then out here we have many poor who don’t have those amenities. So many islands around us, take one back from a foreigner and build a new prison of hard intense labor. Don’t worry about human rights, cause at the end of the day not UN people dying but innocent Belizeans, Children.
No, people, Belize is not getting out of hand. Belize is WAY out of hand!!! I would like to know , just what exactly are the ones in authority, the PM, the Mayor, the Compol, the CJ, THINKING??? Do they truely believe that with the total collapse of law and order as we see it today, that they themselves are immune and insulated from this escalated violence??
I am not promoting it , but take my foolish advice, it is only a matter of time and NO ONE , not even those mentioned above, will be exempt and out of reach of these ruthless crimminals. Maybe then, and only then will the powers that be, DO SOMETHING about this madness!!
And ALL this affects our Bread & Butter……. TOURISM
come on my belizean people rise up there is no law everybody walks, after a murder there is no justice. …….. what a shame. please bring back moses law an eye for an eye forget inhumane treatment. that the treatment that has belize the way it is now. tourists are reading. THE HEADLINE SAYS belize is bogata colombia now. and bogata colombia turned it cities around. it is safe there now.
Maybe someone out here can correct me if i am wrong… a friend once told me that Bob Marley always song about PEACE. However , he recieved a treat the night he was about to come out in stage. He step up in stage and song like never before . He said that if he cancelled , he was giving them motive to continue with crime.
What i want to say with is short story is DON´T LET A LITTLE NOTE INFLUENCE YOU, SHOULD THAT COWARD MAN THAT THE BELIZEAN ARE TIRED OF THIS AND THAT THEY ARE GOING DOWN SOONER OR LATER . GOD SEE IT ALL AND PUNISHED WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT.
So sad that some little borderline illiterates can shake up such a big movement and cause its postponement. Ms Sutherland, Ms Shakron, et al, I won’t fault you guys for rethinking your plans. If my family were threatened, at a time when an 8 year old has just been brutally murdered at home, IN BROAD DAYLIGHT, I’d be scared. LIFE IS CHEAP IN BELIZE, and if someone threatens you, he will probably make good on his threats, because there’s no consequence. We live like prisoners, only we still pay taxes (high taxes at that.) In general, we fear publicly speaking out like these two brave women, which is why this website and the talk shows are our means of fearlessly expressing our opinion.
Mr. PM, you replaced one ineffective Minister with another. You and your new SELECTED Minister of Police are yet to PUBLICLY CONDEMN the latest child murder that took place at 8 year old Marquis’ home (RIP little angel); You‘re yet to address the recent brutal assaults on young women: Ms. Joyce Mitchell (DECEASED), the brutal murder of the Palotti student three days after her graduation, and the shooting of a 16 year old girl, multiple times, a few nights ago (STILL HOSPITASLIZED). WHAT? NO WORDS FOR THE BEREAVED FAMILIES MINISTERS SINGH AND BARROW? All these heinous crimes were committed while Minister Singh was already in office, probably busy at a gym, practicing his “chin ups and sit ups” for the ‘Police challenge’ he’s planning.
Mr. Barrow, even if you don’t read blogs, I’m sure you listen to the 6:30 news casts and the talk shows: Hear our cries. WE’RE TIRED OF THE LACK OF PUBLIC SAFETY DURING BROAD DAYLGHT, IN BUSY AREAS OF THE CITY! ENOUGH ALREADY! We have practically ignored all the mistakes, incompetence, and lavish spending styles of your administration, in hopes that you are serious about restoring this country. The only part of Belize that resembles its old self is the streets and dilapidated buildings. The country looks depressing. The children have to dodge bullets in broad daylight! Come on man, you’ve had 2 1/2years, and you have had more than 200 more murders, 93% of them unsolved!
Belize is in women’s hands.
Men don’t have the b… to act
Ay Belize. where all the good people gone? (states)?maybe so ,but they left their kids with gramma & she can,t control them. The streets ,gangs,drugs & violent TV shows spoil them for good.
Great responsability lies within government to deal with this issue. Belize is dangerous. As my friend stated above.”TOURISTS ARE READING. THEY AIN GOING TO THE JEWEL NO MORE.
So sad that some little borderline illiterates can shake up such a big movement and cause its postponement. Ms Sutherland, Ms Shakron, et al, I won’t fault you guys for rethinking your plans. If my family were threatened, at a time when an 8 year old has just been brutally murdered at home, IN BROAD DAYLIGHT, I’d be scared. LIFE IS CHEAP IN BELIZE, and if someone threatens you, he will probably make good on his threats, because there’s no consequence. We live like prisoners, only we still pay taxes (high taxes at that.) In general, we fear publicly speaking out like these two brave women, which is why this website and the talk shows are our means of fearlessly expressing our opinion.
Mr. PM, you replaced one ineffective Minister with another. You and your new SELECTED Minister of Police are yet to PUBLICLY CONDEMN the latest child murder that took place at 8 year old Marquis’ home (RIP little angel); You‘re yet to address the recent brutal assaults on young women: Ms. Joyce Mitchell (DECEASED), the brutal murder of the Palotti student three days after her graduation, and the shooting of a 16 year old girl, multiple times, a few nights ago (STILL HOSPITASLIZED). WHAT? NO WORDS FOR THE BEREAVED FAMILIES MINISTERS SINGH AND BARROW? All these heinous crimes were committed while Minister Sing was already in office, probably busy at a gym, practicing his “chin ups and sit ups” for the ‘Police challenge’ he’s planning.
Mr. Barrow, even if you don’t read blogs, I’m sure you listen to the 6:30 news casts and the talk shows: Hear our cries. WE’RE TIRED OF THE LACK OF PUBLIC SAFETY DURING BROAD DAYLGHT, IN BUSY AREAS OF THE CITY! ENOUGH ALREADY! We have practically ignored all the mistakes, incompetence, and lavish spending styles of your administration, in hopes that you are serious about restoring this country. The only part of Belize that resembles its old self is the streets and dilapidated buildings. The country looks depressing. The children have to dodge bullets in broad daylight! Come on man, you’ve had 2 1/2years, and you have had more than 200 more murders, 93% of them unsolved!
Belize need a vigilante group to get rid of these criminal minds. If they are not making peace in the communities or doing constructive and positive things, point them out and you know what after that. These people are the same ones you see driving nice cars and living large not paying tax and are obviously without a job but still seem to have nice things along with power around the city and towns. If the cops cant get vthese guys under control who will! iTS EITHER THEM OR US, WHO’S THE MAJORITY?
Thats same Tuesday a guy threatened my family member to kill him too. I am tired of this…people get killed and the criminals walk. You know what i will do…I will arm myself and my family…better we go to jail for a couple months too rather than in the ground that seems to be the in thing anyway. I am not going to let the criminals scare me anymore.
Good law abiding citizens will be forced to do like South Sider says….
“Politicians dem a fraud, them no care about the people none at all” in the words of Ras Indio….
You cannot appease or negotiate with evil — history is full of proof that appeasement always fails.
If evil threatens, we must ESCALATE our response, to make it clear that bad people can only lose, and roughly if necessary.
If they threaten violence to any one, that should justify a harsh pre-emptive assault to protect the community.
South Sider…….. I SUPPORT YOU!!! May the Good LORD be with you!!!