Jason Brown reacts to his role in Kemp’s documentary
There is plenty reaction to the gang documentary by Ross Kemp which portrays Belize as a notorious outpost of three thousand people, where criminals, cocaine, gangs and weapons are in control. Last night we showed you a small extract of the one hour piece and the reaction has been fast and furious for the negative image it gives the jewel. Today we interviewed one of the principals in the documentary, Jason Brown, who went along with Kemp in the sensational piece, but who now says he is scared for his life.
Jason Brown, Featured in Kemp’s “Gang” Documentary
“Right here I have in my hands, a document which says that “the George Streets crew are the most feared gang in Belize City operating as local enforcers for the Mexican and Colombian drug cartel. In 2004 the gang leader was sentenced to thirty-three years in Miami prison for smuggling more than ten tons of cocaine into the U.S. Ross meets Jason Brown, the current leader of George Street. Along with a collection of his lieutenants in the trust of Brown, Ross is given an insight on the reality of gang life and discovers as many questions as it could answer.” When he’s states that George Street is operating as local enforcers for the Mexican and Colombian drug cartel, nothing goes like that you understand. So he’s exaggerating a lot. And when he says I’m the leader of George Street, that’s never ever possible and that never was in existence ever at all. I am only affiliated with them but I am not a leader of George Street like he says and for me that is very dangerous for me for him getting on the internet and telling lies like that.”
Marion Ali
“What about this section that you said we have witnesses who we kill. If you are a witness, I could come twelve o’clock in the afternoon and shoot this guy in the middle of the forehead and you are a witness. And then Ross Kemp answered you “I wouldn’t say anything and then you respond you better not.”
Jason Brown
“Yes, what I have to say about that—before that he asked me a question; he asked me … because first of all, I gone into this documentary noting that I was gonna be this guy who is working, changing his life, who was once in the gang and now trying to reform his life. But none of that was portrayed in his video. I was telling him the live reality and stuff of the streets that I experienced back in the past. It’s not like I am the guy who will be shooting people or be killing. I don’t even have a police record for their information, so for them labelling me as this. He asked me a question like this; he said what is the procedure taken when a hit is set on the street for someone and I used the example like this. I said if I was the lieutenant, I would get the smaller guys to do the work for me because that’s how it runs in the street. that’s what I’m explaining to him but he cut where he asks me the question and just portray it like I said oh, I am the lieutenant, I am this. And for that part when I am telling him that if you talk against these people you will get hurt, that’s reality. I was on the streets; when you’re on the streets affiliated with George Street a bit. I was on the streets and I saw lots of bad stuff and several attempts were made on my life too. So what am I supposed to do? For me survival is the key.”
Crispin Jeffries, Assistant Commissioner of Police
“The police was involved through Mr. Douglas Hyde when Mr Kemp indicated to us that his camera crew and his management indicated to us that they want to come and do a documentary on Belize on gangs like they’ve done across the world. That was welcomed, we see it as an opportunity to share Belize like every other country and Mr Kemp’s team came. The team was taken around and they were introduced to a number of things including the Coast Guard, the Belize Defence Force, CYDP and we showed them around. They were given the opportunity to meet people. They did not just get sent into the street to wonder around. They came as an organisation and they were treated as an organised group of people. Regrettably, they have given off the information very slanderously to sensationalise what they found in Belize to make Belize look bad in my estimation. However, there is some truth to what they are saying. They could not have seen or spoken to some of the people if they did not exist. Belize has seen a number of persons, national Geographic, coming to do documentaries. This is only another opportunity that Belize has been highlighted. Unfortunately for us, it came at a time when grenade is in the fore floor. Most persons are scared of grenades so because Ross Kemp has done this, and it has been sensationalise people are in sensory so obviously, the paranoia steps in.”
Police say the grenade that Kemp held in his hands could still very well be in the streets but since the production of the documentary police have confiscated two of the devices. The weapon also resembled the same British type that was lobbed on Carnival day.
