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Aug 17, 2010

Should Belize invest in a witness protection program?

This past weekend, two Belize City residents were shot and killed for allegedly being witnesses to homicide. One of the victims was scheduled to take the stand against an accused murderer but did not live to testify in his trial.  The other was gunned down because it is believed that he may have seen who killed the witness. Tonight we ask: Should Belize invest in a witness protection program? 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 email with your comments to questions@channel5belize.com.


Viewers please note: This Internet newscast is a verbatim transcript of our evening television newscast. Where speakers use Kriol, we attempt to faithfully reproduce the quotes using a standard spelling system.

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22 Responses for “Should Belize invest in a witness protection program?”

  1. BZNinCALI says:

    YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  2. BZNinCALI says:

    Again yes & that money the Government is talking about giving to single mothers to help them out, use it to keep them alive.

  3. bon says:

    yes they should implement that

  4. Unbelievable says:

    Really, now? You think a witness protection program would do anything to help Belize… it doesn’t matter if u change ur name, place u live or anything, unless they send you out of d country for good. Belizean government, whether PUP or UDP, don’t care about its people, they care for their pockets and well being… other than that, everyone else is just ppl paying taxes. I guess next time there is a murder and you see something, close your eyes, shut your mouth, because heaven forbid the goverment is involved and you will end up dead. Sorry to sound so pesimistic but it’s true.

  5. Jane doe says:

    We cant even have a sensible police department much less a witness protection program. Where will the money come from!Please!

  6. Stygian says:

    unbelievable you are absolutley right, sit back and take it NOTHING CAN AND WILL BE DONE. Belize congratulations you are in second place behind Jamaica.

  7. Frank Rhys says:

    First of all, People love ones are being slaughter in the street, and this is the type a of question
    to ask? We are the Ones with the really solution, democracy is a illusion. This
    situation going on in Belize, and many other Countries around the world, Especially: were
    there are large population of Indigenous people, is called Population Control. Only Solution People. Uhh nuhh come togedah an survive, or, follow uhh nuh so called leaders, and exterminate each other, simple, because them the mek it betta fi them selves and dem family,
    and its only you all making miserable for each other. You do not need a PHD for that. YHWH Shalome

  8. Elgin Martinez says:

    I do agree with a witness protection program,however i do not know if that would work unless the witnesses are armed and given the right to protect themselves should they be approached by the accused or someone affiliated with the accused. Because the Police dept definately can’t provide 24hours security for these Witnesses.

  9. Elgin Martinez says:

    How is it that every knew the young lady Sanchez was getting threatening phone call but yet the police can’t link somone to this crime.Come on Belize every phone call can be linked to some one let’s stop acting like some doh-doh birds Compol.

  10. Proud says:

    Stygian…if u got nothing good to say..just hush….

  11. Vanessa says:

    Oh yes best idea ever, I totally agree.

  12. cali says:

    it’s about time something like that happen! i strongly support the witness protect program. People should not live in fear of there live if they do something right, like reporting on any crime they see happening, because it is for the betterment of us all belizean to live in peace and with one another without crime

  13. Elgin Martinez says:

    And to you Mr Barrow you’re not going to restore …. if you can’t gurantee the safety of these witnesses.Why should someone put their life on the line for reporting a crime when there is no kind of protection in place for them?Would you?

  14. Jamal Hamilton says:

    It would be so great if the government could afford this program. Then i believe more witnesses would want to talk.

  15. garnaches says:

    daveyt said it all.

  16. Kay says:

    Don’t mean to come off as pessimistic but in order for something as good as witness protection program to function in a small country like ours the police force needs a complete overhaul starting from our supposed Minister of police (in my opinion he only got that position to put him on the GOB payroll sucking us taxpayers drier). If we got crooked police in the force how safe would any witness be his location would be revealed to the criminals before he (the witness) even gets to that destination. It’s a good program but not sure how it would be implemented in Belize.

  17. garnaches says:

    I don’t know Kay. Let’s give the minister a chance. At least 6 months. I always 6 months is a fair timeframe to really judge a politician’s performance.

  18. BZNinCALI says:

    The GOB can work with other countries in the area, most of the Caribbean countries are small & we do share a common language. We have welcomed everyone else into our country & made them feel at home, look for options that will keep Belizeans alive. A witness protection/exchange program can be addressed at the next OAS meeting. They can set up specific guidelines to those people who are in the program, they get into trouble in their new country, they will be deported back to their home country, plain & simple.

  19. Mick says:

    That is a great idea. Just need to work out the logistics. There can be reciprocal agreements with all our neighboring countries, including the United States!

  20. Manford says:

    Folks, do you want to know how difficult it is this fix this home grown creminal element? Just look at the different suggestions that are posted on this forum. In one of my previous response I made reference to the book, EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE. if you read this book that is well respected by those in mental health proffession you will get a deeper understanding of what could be some of the contributing factors of a criminal. Lets not forget that belizeis not the only country that is plague with this run away criminal phenominon. Because I have been to many countries on this planet, I have seen how Law Enforcement deal. with the criminals in different countries. On one occasion when I was waiting at a traffic light in a particular country, the police had a group of gang bangers held up in a service station while other gangs were shooting it out in the intersection.

    Lets not forget that while the BDF was trying to take back the streets, everything seem well for a few days, and then all hell broke lose to the extent that the criminals begun to exchange gun fire with the BDF.If I’m not mistaking the PM meet with them on one occasion. They also meet at cevic and proclaimed and end to the violence, but that did not lost too long. I stated the following observation on this forum before and I’ll repeat it here again: When there is no love, recpect, or fear in any individual, society is dealing with the worst of animal, the human. There are all kinds of theory in the USA as to what causes gangs, but why Belize when we know each other close up?

    Having said all that, here is my two cents how we can deal with this problem. Since the police know who most, if not all the gang members are, do what they did before and invite them to friendly meeting, and while they are in that confinement, call in the BDFin full force, and as much police officers that can be speared for the accasion, then tell these trouble makers that they are there to be fitted with a monitoring chip that will feed into a computer their where abouts at all times. If they fire a weapon it will be known immediately by whom, when, and where. They will wear that chip for at least five years. Of course we are going to hear about human rights, and that it is not constitutional; well, ammend the constitution to deal with this urgent of situation. As its reported that George W. Bush.once said when reminded about the constitution: its a piece of paper. DO I HEAR AMEN ON THIS SUGGESTION. In the USA certain individuals are fitted with ankle bracelett to be out on parol or bail. Folks this will show if the Politicians are real leaders.

    The next law that should be pass, is that a citizen can take out anyone who approach them with their faces covered. And make it unlawful to walk in a public place with covered face. Show up in any place with covered face and that person is a dead meat. This is one way to take back the country from these thugs. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

  21. Egbert says:

    Unbelievable sums up the scenario in Belize accurately.
    There has to be a connection between the criminal elements and the administration.
    Administration just rolls over and play dead while the poor black people keep shouting each other
    and the Belizean population just bend over and accepts whats happening as “LIFE”

    Administration comes up with ideas ,but when it comes to implementation—— NO Money is the constant cry.

    Wake up Belizeans! get some backbone and demand accountibility from your government.

  22. Jazzie30 says:

    With a HUGE and LONG. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!

    http://www.singlemomfinancialhelp.com/

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