G.O.B. and U.S. sign on Regional Gang Initiative

Law enforcement authorities did not need a controversial documentary to tell them that Belize has a gang problem and today the government received assistance to help decrease that form of criminal activity. This afternoon in Belmopan, G.O.B. and the United States governments signed an agreement on a Regional Gang Initiative. According to a release from the Ministry of National Security, the signing is to support the Central America Regional Gang Initiative and will increase the capacity of Belize to prevent and reduce gang related crimes, disrupt criminal organizations, and protect communities and youths. They plan to achieve those objectives by developing a strategy for combating gang related crime and violence and focusing on improving areas such as community policing. The U.S. has allocated a hundred and ten thousand U.S. dollars for the initiative. Signing on to the agreement for the U.S. was Charge d’ Affaires Jack Diffily, while Minister of National Security, Carlos Perdomo, penned for Belize.