Upsurge in homicides; now P.M. plans to bring back preventative detention bill
Dean Barrow
As we said earlier, the four weekend murders sent the government scurrying for solutions. The police met in emergency over the weekend and this afternoon Prime Minister Barrow along with the ministers of police and defense, flanked by the top brass of the Belize Police Department, the B.D.F. and the National Coast Guard held a press conference at the Raccoon Street Police Headquarters. The topic was the upsurge in homicides across the Old Capital over the past few days. Since the beginning of 2011 there is now a record of thirty-three murders, twenty-five which took place in Belize City alone. It is a crime situation that has spiraled completely out of control and today P.M. Barrow began by speaking on newly proposed legislature for the bench that should ensure that magistrates adhere to due diligence during the judicial process. P.M. Barrow says he’s going to be tough on crime and he plans to bring back to the table, the preventative detention bill that was pulled back due to public outcry. It allows for the early detention of individuals suspected to be intending to commit crime.
Dean Barrow
“We’re going to introduce a law that requires magistrates, and I’m sorry I don’t care who I offend, this is an extremely serious matter and I am beyond the point where I have to worry about bruised feelings. We are going to pass a law that will give magistrates a time limit within which, and that is the case now, they have to prepare their reasons for decision. It’s just that now there is the requirement but it’s violated with impunity and nothing happens. Well consequences are going to attach to the failure of any magistrate to prepare the reasons for decision in a timely fashion so that the appeal can be dealt with and so that these people don’t simply abuse the system and are allowed to get away scot-free.
I will go to Cabinet tomorrow and I will ask that we re-introduce the provisions to change the Constitution to bring into force preventative detention laws. Again I am very sorry. On the last occasion, there was an outcry. We are at a point now where if all people of good sense among us don’t realize that the situation is so extreme as to demand a measure like that then I’m sorry. We will simply, once Cabinet gives me the approval we will simply have to proceed in the face of whatever opposition there is.”
Can you also add a provision that current & former members of any Political Party & their law partners & associates will no longer be allowed to represent any of these people. Just remember, Einstein’s parents were said to be related, our incestuous court have so far only managed to produce murderous retards.
I see a wound with a lot of band aid on it.
This is utter bull. What I would like the government to tell us is what measures they have implemented in the Crook Report that was finished 3 years ago – back in 2008. That report details all of the problems of the Belize Police Department – inadequate resources, poor management, non-accountability – and recommend solutions – good, sound ones. Have any of the been implemented? Of course, if they haven’t, the government will please lack of money. But, seems that now they’re going to get the money to institute preventive detention. What malarkey. There just isn’t any will to right this situation other than by drastic measures that will harm people rather than help us. Did you know that prior to 2008t, the US Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) offered Belize a Memorandum of Understanding that would GIVE our police department E trace software and access to the BATFE internet based firearm tracing data. This important agreement, which would have allowed the Belize Police Department to trace the higher up criminals who in large part are responsible for today’s crime situation had not yet been operationalized at least 10 months prior to the date of the Crook Report in 2008? Have we accepted this agreement yet? I think we need to know what the government has REALLY been doing to address the crime situation in the last 4 years.
Barrow is to soft with crime,like past pup dictators,they dont care about crime in belize because their law firms,their lawyers are representing those monsters in court,and they are getting payed millions for it.so we see now why those 2 mafias dont care about crime?
“I will do this”…”I will do that”….PM…WE ARE TIRED OF PRESS CONFERENCES……GET UNO BACKSIDE OUT ON THE STREETS AND DO WHAT U WERE ELECTED TO DO….Do U ever watch news and see how pathetic U all sound???
Sounds like a lot of air as you never know before. You know after and even when you know who did the killings they get away either because witnesses were threatened or because of some technicality. Witness protection need to be in place and no bail should be given to anyone suspected of murder. Barrow never fails to amuse me with his deliverance of garbage.
Trust me people, the opposition will bring this up in assembly meeting just to hit back at the gov. rather than working together bcas we already see that the present gov. cannot do it on it own, but u know what, they wont come to any final solution to address d issue at hand.. They will quarrel like kids in sand box…Boots will say some dumb $#!% out of his mouth and Gasper will not make any sense at all…..Incompetent ministers……
As usual i hear the grumblings but hear offer no solutions. Gentlemen, have you wondered where all those guns are coming from??
Politics is big in this thing man. Very big.
In a way i am sorry for my country. Its going through its own revolution because of our two political parties and this power hungry issue.
Politicians will do everthing now to get to be in Cabinet to loot the natural resources of our nation and its people.
PLEASEE MR. PRIME MINISTER.. WE SUPORT YOU 100% ON THESE NEW MEASURES.. THE ONLY ONES THAT WORRY ABOUT IT ARE THE CRIMINALS AND THE ONES DEFENDING TEH CRIMINALS OR THE PWERFUL ONES BEHIND THE CRIMINALS… ITS ABOUT TIME YOU TAKE THESE STRONG MEASURES… ITS NOT POLITICAL SUICIDE BUT WILL BE YOUR POLITICAL RE-ELECTION. HARDWORKING AND ABIDING CITIZENS HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT THESE MEASURES . SO PLEASE NO MORE PRESS CONFERENCES JUST DO IT.. I AM A MOTHER OF 3 CHILDREN WORKING HARD TO SEND THEM TO SCHOOL AND LET THEM BE OUR FUTURE LAW ABIDING CITIZENS.. WHAT ABOUT OUR RIGHTS ?? LETS STOP DEFENDING THE CRIMINAL RIGHTS IN THE NAME OF HUMAN RIGHTS..
Conflict of interest…..
The crime & violence in Belize has been an ongoing issue or problem for many years !!! Why ooh why do more people have to die or be sacrificed in order for the government to enforce the laws or bring up old laws !!!! Regardless of which government is in office , maintaining safety & keeping order in the country should be a priority !!!! Maintaining the countries infrastructure should also be a priority !!! Belize is a beautiful country but Maaaddaa Ayyyess the country has so much corruption !!! This is surely to put a damper on Belize’s tourism !!!!