Belizeans for Justice calls for countrywide shutdown
The lawlessness in the streets is unrelenting. This weekend alone, six murders were reported, but the one that touched many hearts was the slaying of an innocent eight year old school girl who was fast asleep in her house in Belize City. Most people want the madness to stop. Belizeans for Justice is one group that is asking for support for a national shutdown later this week in solidarity of the fallen victims. News Five’s Isani Cayetano has reaction from the aggrieved families and details on Thursday’s event.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
The scourge of crime and violence in Belize City predicated, for the most part, by gang rivalry has sunken to an all time low during what is considered the month of nationalism. Since the beginning of September a total of seven murders have rocked the Old Capital, four of which occurred this past weekend alone. On Sunday morning while most were fast asleep members of the police department found themselves responding to various scenes of crimes, all of which were murders. The most heart wrenching of them was at the Zericote Street address of eight year old Eyannie Nunez. Her home had been assaulted by gunmen who wanted her uncle dead. It’s a situation all too reminiscent to that of another minor, Marquise Mahler, who was gunned down with no apparent purpose on July ninth. While the motive for the shooting remains unclear Francine Pitts says the pre-dawn attack on her family may have been precipitated by an incident involving the murder of her younger brother back in 2009.
Francine Pitts, Mother of Eyannie Nunez
“I think it’s from last year, the thirtieth of March when my brother died, Ryan Walker. He and my brother Herman they were affiliating in so many things that we the family don’t know about; I personally don’t know about. My mother didn’t even know about. My mother had to run [and] live in the States.”
The social problem of crime and violence, despite its toll on the lives of the innocent, is one that many social activists and political leaders say the wider community needs to own up to.
John Briceño, Party Leader, PUP
john briceno
“We as a society, we Belizeans also need to take responsibility for what is taking place on our streets. It is easy to blame ‘oh it’s these people over there that are creating these problems,’ but we’re also responsible.”
Part of that responsibility is communication between parents and children. In the case of seventeen year old Marlon Zelaya his grandmother who raised him from birth did not know who his friends were; neither did she know that he had been accused of committing a crime against a police officer.
Margaret Zelaya, Grandmother of Marlon Zelaya
“Well I can’t tell you exactly bout ah yoh know because when ih deh round me ih alright and when ih deh round I noh know who dah dih company weh ih heng out wid. I noh know weh really gaan on.”
The overall picture nonetheless is one in which young Belizeans have resortedto guns and violence to settle differences. It is a problem that has spiraled out of control and regardless of academic exercises to affect change we have been failing miserably.
John Briceño
“Well I think that [em] that the time for studies and reports is over. We have gone through this for years and we have all these studies and [uhm] I think it is time for decisive action.”
Among those who share that idea is the group Belizeans for Justice which is requesting a complete halt to business across the country on Thursday.
Yolanda Schakron, Founder, Belizeans for Justice
yolanda schakron
“We have called for a shutdown of the business community on Thursday. That’s the day when the little young girl that was murdered, thelittle girl Nunez will be laid to rest. I have contacted the Chamber of Commerce. They are sending it out to their membership. I have spoken to the Chinese community and they said they will assist us and I have spoken to the Indian community and I am waiting for a phone call for them.”
The proposed shutdown comes almost a month after the Asian community suspended business on August 19th following the shooting death of fourteen year old Helen Yu.
Yolanda Schakron
“We are asking the public on the day when this little girl Nunez is buried, come out. You know what, come out to the funeral, you may not know her personally but come out and show your support and show the government that we want changes. We’re tired of living like this.”
Since its formation earlier this year, Belizeans for Justice has been growing exponentially, sadly because its membership are grieving families who are losing their loved ones to crime and violence. Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.
Since the beginning of September there have been thirteen murders in Belize, most of which no one has been charged.
Gangsters are public enemies — we must treat them that way. We cannot rely on police or the BDF to protect our families, but we live in a democracy where the power comes from the people. I think that means the people must organize to take the fight to the gangsters directly. Most of them can easily be identified and hunted down.
Having every school aged child in uniform standing along the streets of Belize during this child’s funeral would be a reminder to every parent how vulnerable their children are. Belizeans do not own the shops, instead of closing the shops, Belizeans should buy nothing other than the bare necessities for a week. Get in the kitchen & cook for a change, try doing it with your children. Turn off the TV & get to know your neighbors & work out a plan where neighbors can call each other if they see something suspicious, if they are afraid to call the Police, form your own Guardian Angels, this time with guns & take out anyone who is a threat to the neighborhood. Use your collective nearsightedness to your advantage.
I don’t know how many children have to die before the parents who need to get on board & get their heads out of their tails will finally do so & sadly we may be better off letting them & their children die. None of us want to have our lives threatened because we dare to tell parents that their little angels wings are on fire & he/she is holding a pitchfork in one had & a gun in the other but it is a cross we sometimes have to bear.
It is your job to know where your children are & what they are doing, even adult children in our homes do not have the right to do whatever they want & for God’s sake, stop getting high with your children. No mother in her right mind goes through labor & all the pain & joy associated with childbirth in order to have a best friend, we are parents first, we don’t have to be liked all the time.
Belizeans forJustice needs to take this protest to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Come on Schakaron, your 15 minutes of fame has long faded. If you are going to march and protest the ineptness of the Barrow government, then I support you. Let it be heard around the world. Belize is being strangled by the inaction of Barrow’s lame duck government. They have no interest in curbing crime. I guess it’s pretty hard to hit back at drug and prostitute dealers when your yesteryears consisted of socializing with them, from Yabra bars to ghetto discos in Los Angeles.
March if you have to, but be real about the problems. Screaming and shouting we have a problem will not solve it. Exposing incompetent leaders will definitely help.
I completely agree with the shutdown. Let’s learn from the Asian community; these people have shown their solidarity for one of their own and we need to do the same here. GOB needs to take things seriously; because like they take things for granted.
I support the efforts of Belizeans for Justice. There is a collective responsibility on our part on a whole. While I support the one day activity, next time, go for a week! Some of us pay lip service to changing things but as soon as the photo-op is over, we shelve the “good intention”. We need to get to the Commerce sector of the economy and a one week “strike” would be a beginning. Implore all civil servants to be at their jobs, but do nothing more than is necessary. If they were processing 20 people a day, take time now to cross every T and to dot every eye, no more short cuts to serve so many. All consumers should refrain from going to the store unless absolutely necessary. Buy your food stuff from the small vendor at the corner, rather than go to the store. Do not visit any of the major stores, do not go to any bar, no games, no casino, etc for one week. That will draw the attention of the powers that be. Now, we have always been taken for granted, so initially, we will not be taken seriously. If we see that, then we go for another week and if possible two weeks. Eventually, they will see. That is how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr changed the course of history in the USA! If we want to change what’s going on in our streets, this is the way to start. Peaceful, yet powerful resistance!
I support this process, however, we need to take it up a notch. We have always been taken for granted so the powers that be will pretend as if this did not happen. And I am not being party specific, i am a UDP supporter. PUP cannot claim innocence in this because they allowed things to escalate to where they are at this time. That being said, we need to go for a whole week! Not only in the city, but countrywide! Let us not go to the stores, buy from your neigborhood vendor. No visiting bars, for a week. No casino. If you do not have to, no travelling. The civil servants shopuld take a week to do everything they do by the book. Cross every t and dot every i. If you were processing 20 people per day, with shortcuts, then that number will reduce, but you cannot be accused of malingering. I know that there are some “traitors” who will say that this is unecessary and will not work. Pay no attention to them for they are sadly lacking. Peaceful, yet powerful resistance. If they tell you ti will not work, ask them if they know the story of Martin Luther King Jr. He changed history in this manner. And if one week does not do it, then we go for two weeks next time, and soon too.
Almost a murder a day. Please shut down your businesses, your schools and demand action. ENOUGH, ENOUGH, ENOUGH. Belizeans please come together and end this violence. As a people we have a strong voice and united we can force the changes we want. Stop letting the greedy politicians divide the country and STAND UP for your RIGHTS. Tell them what you want, what you expect of them as our leaders. Lets come together as Belizeans and take back our country. We can not move forward, not one more day with our lives until we see some action.
I totally agree with the complete shutdown I suggest that even all government offices and a complete shut down be set for tomarrow we need to stand up my people we are dying before we live and enjoy life.wake up Belizeans we are Belize let fight for a better Belize lets salvage what is lef lets make dis gov.Pm kmow that we need changes and they promised up people lets shutdown the entire country adelante los valientes
I fail to see how shutting down the country will help the situation. This action suggests that a message needs to be sent, but to whom? The government already knows there is a problem, but there is little more that can be done by law enforcement due to a lack of resources. Unless the government shuts down all other government programs, education, health, social services, it cannot find additional resources to pay for the kind of policing needed, and even that can be only be in the form of a reaction to a wave that is systemic, deep, and a societal decay. The message needs to be sent to the parents of the kids that are shooting.. I find it hard to believe that a parent or a girlfriend living in a house with a roving murderer does not have pre warning of his intent to go on a kill. The message needs to be set to those that know to come out and speak to prevent murders BEFORE they happen.
Those studies and reports that have been done throughout the years that Briceno said need to be over with .. yeah – those same studies and reports come with effective solutions. But obviously, no one seems to take much value in them and want to take ineffective extreme measures like a nationwide shutdown.
VALUE RESEARCH!!! It bothers me that someone aspiring for political office would insult all the hardworking academics on national television. That is not a good display of leadership!
shutting down the business community is like cuuting off your nose to spite your face. the economy is already at an all time low. this will make business lose more money and have to lay off more workers. Look around and see how many businesses all going bankrupt closing down for good or laying off staff. I say lets send our message to GOB and the Minsiters on the 21. Let there be NO JUMP UP, NO SCHOOLS MARCH but a PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION, in Belmopan and Belize City in mourning for our fallen children, parents and grandparents in this senseless war.
I support it. I think the message will reach the right ears. Its up to the leaders (innept) government to take it forward.
Absolutely!!! Let’s see what the government is going to do about this!
If you do decide to this nationwide shutdown, do it on Independence Day. Many businesses would have already been closed, so less of an economic impact, and the message would be very clear considering it’s on a national holiday. Cancel the parades, etc.
Some people in Mexico are taking the same approach today considering all the cartel mayhem taking place, but because it’s their 200th Anniversary, it’s kind of hard to get large support.
We can pull it off here. 29th Anniversary. Boohoo. Do it.
Save the marching and the partying for the 30th Anniversary.
Absolutely!! Let’s see what the government is going to do about this.
lets boycott the parade eveyone to make a statmente to gov. that we’re in serious situation in crime. no parade this 21st, lets show solidarity with the victims of crime.
You might not like what I have to say:
1.) Parents now that u can’t controll your children you shout to the GOB to control the situation. yes you who did not know how to raise your child from birth..you who did not discipline them from young (it is too late) & u know who u r. To those parents whose Fam.were murder innocently my condolesence to you all.
2.) GOB…it is past the time to start to hang or shoot these criminals in public…Belize is calling u to do so dat is the only way this … will stop.
How can police expect for people to respect them when they dont respect themselves. Police officers drinking in uniform at the same time this newscast was airing.. Then they left the place… entered a vehicle that apparently had crashed once ( not the same night) that had no lights, no front plates and one of the officers that was drinking drove the vehicle away…..
Nevertheless, there is a very striking statement in the Bible. It is recorded in Ecclesiastes 8:5. There God declares:
Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man’s
heart discerneth [better translation: will know] both time and judgment.
In the Bible a wise man is a true believer, to whom God has given a profound trust in the authority of the Bible. we Belizeans all Seeking all Kind of *OUR OWN UNDERSTANDING*; when 2013 years ago AS TODAY 2007-2018 IS THE SAME; **SPIRITUAL OF SALVATION CYCLE AND REVELATION FULFILLING ITSELF AS THE PROPHECIES OF OUR HOLY BIBLE!
For our innocent Belizean Children as a Mixed Culture are Lost; Confused; Ignorant and Evil; today during the last Days 2007-2018! For the realities and truth *who could change the prophecies of our Holy Bible *SOWN BY GOD JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD? Where the *SPIRITUAL FOOLS AS BELIZEAN FLESH AS POLITICIANS AND WOE RELIGIOUS LEADERS AND THEIR ALMIGHTY ANGELS AS PUBLIC OFFICERS ARE LOST; CONFUSED; EVIL AND IGNORANT AS THE SAME FLESH OF 2013 YEARS AGO; SOWING THEIR SAME TRADITION AND CULTURES SMILE! SO CLOSING DOWN THE CITY WILL NOT CHANGE THE LOST; CONFUSED; IGNORANT AND EVIL BELIZEAN FLESH AND THESE REFUGEES AS DRUGLORDS ETC! SO THE ONLY SOLUTION TO THIS *PLAQUE OF VIOLENCE AND CRIME IN BELIZE; IS FOR ALL BELIZEAN TO REPENT AND OBEY THE TEN COMMANDMENTS; AS TO LOVE; HONOUR; RESPECT AND UNITE WITH ONE ANOTHER AND THEIR NEIGHBORS *THE FLESH/BODIES; AS THE ONLY BLESSED TEMPLES OF GOD JESUS SPIRITUAL SALVATION! PLEASE CHECK MY WEBSITE:wwwcreolesalvationforbelize.com; and face book prophetjorgeernestobabb! THANK YOU AND LETS JUST PRAY; AND UNDERSTANDING GOD JESUS CAME LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT **13TH JANUARY 2007-2018-3000! For our children need to understand that the body/the flesh may dies but me and you never dies! But we are not thought why me and you never Dies today 2007-3000; So why keep on Killing the Blessed; Innocent Temples of God Jesus Salvation all in Vain! see you later!
THIS IS DEDICATED TO THE YOUTHS OF BELIZE!!!!!!…you can make little choices that can change the world to be a better, happier, lovelier place every day.”Our youth are not failing the system; the system is failing our youth. Ironically, the very youth who are being treated the worst are the young people who are going to lead us out of this nightmare.” PEACE
My heart aches and I grieve for my country – but I will not give up the fight. We Belizeans can reclaim our country.! must reclaim our country! must fight for our country! let us find ways for us to organize in the different neighborhoods and maybe we as women can make every effort to meet with these young criminals and/or accused/suspected criminals – if the police cannot do it we have to do it!
Dissapointed UDP: GREAT IDEA BOSS!
Mary Open Doors(organization for battered women an children in San Ignacio) closes its doors in solidarity with Belizeans For Justice!
Our Condolences to all the families who have lost loved ones to these violent crimes. This call for Belizean to unite and take back our country must be heard by all. Let’s not waste time pointing fingers and try to find solutions that will be effective. Coming together and working in unity is the first step.
Everyone wants to see our youths stop the senseless killings; how much of us are willing to help that one youth next to you who might have never known the love of a mother or father, the one that makes a mistake and is out of school who is giving them a second chance?, many of our youths have experience much suffering at a very young age , while we are waiting on the Government, and foreign organizations to do something our country is sinking deeper and deeper in to the pit.
Those businesses that will not close their doors in this respect are the very ones that shut their doors when our youths go knocking for assistance to do something positive with their lives. Unbelievable!
This situation will not be solved by one or two groups it takes each and everyone of us as a concern Belizean to take a stand and become involved.We the people have the power to make the change and together we can. With GOD all things is possible!
It is a pity we don’t have anyone that is competent enough to overthrow this government and rise to power and effect changes. The PUP is a waste of time, I don’t see the leader of the opposition doing a thing, he doesn’t need to be in power to effect change. All what I can do for my country is keep on praying for new leaders and revival. A God fearing nation is a blessed nation and more and more our nation is not a God fearing but it seems more a satan worshippers. People wake up, get on your knees and pray, God says ask and it shall be given unto.
is anyone planning to protest instead of celebrate on the 21st?
It is sad for most of us young Belizeans who intend to make life today here in our so-called peaceful country, all the bla…bla…bla…. has been replaced by bum…bum…bumm!!! where the hell will we run to when even our homes that used to be ‘our palace’ is a target? In protest against this madness I intend to be patriotic by not participating in the 21st celebration.I believe that any celebration at the national or local level should be based on great achievement and excellence of daily life instead of only highlighting the past and in the meantime we are being crushed by the present.God alone knows whats best for Belize.
Just popping in to say nice site.