Investigation into police beating of Taylor’s Alley Crew
Hughington Williams
There is a foreboding sense of apprehension going into the weekend in the Taylor’s Alley neighborhood where security forces clashed with residents on Wednesday night. An investigation is being launched into the allegations that the Gang Suppression Unity and the Dragon Unit harassed and brutalized members of the Taylor Alley Gang. The incident is threatening to disrupt the gang truce that has been in place since September fourth, 2011. Before departing the country today, the Minister of National Security, John Saldivar, put in place a three man commission. On the team are Hughington Williams, former Commissioner of Police, Donelle Hawke, Chairperson of the Independent Complaint Commission and Adam Jackson, from the Office of the Ombudsman. The three are tasked to fully investigate the incident and report their findings forthwith. Taylor’s Alley was generally quiet on Thursday following the brutal beating of six men in the neighborhood. The gang members told us that after seven about eight armed GSU Officers attacked them. They ended up at the K.H.M.H. with varying degrees of injuries. Arthur Young, who is well known to the police and the courts, told us that they are pressing charges against the security forces. News Five asked Young, who represents Taylor’s Alley in the gang truce, how the joint operation affects the arrangement. He says they will honor the truce but something has to give.
Arthur Young
Arthur Young, Leader of Taylor’s Alley Gang Truce
“I spoke to a few of the people that is participating, the elders, and they say it’s gonna go on, but we gotta sit down and try to talk about something and see if something could change out of this; because then if the commissioner can’t help us and whoever the minister of police is can’t help us and Dean Barrow can’t step in, then it’s no hope because then they started it. They as the big brother, they supposed to find things to occupy everybody mind. I just want to say to all the people inna Belize, all the blacks and thing, they need to realize and visualize and si weh di happen out yah because if we continue to try fight up against each other, we di do the wrong thing, first of all.
DONELLE HAWKE
I am a cool person, everything, I love and respect everybody, even my enemies but at the same time, I nuh think we need fi do that. We need fi try come together and solve the problem weh di the GSU or whoever they bring, so all deh bwai weh deh out deh inna the streets, they need fi collaborate with one another and mek we do weh we need fi do the right way.”
In a release issued today, Minister of State, Mark King, with responsibility for the CYDP, stated that he visited with the residents of Taylor’s Alley. According to the release, King says that he will work to ensure that peace is maintained at all levels. He says that “human rights must be maintained and citizens as well as authorities must be treated with respect equally.”
I am appalled at gang members crying brutality, what about all the crimes the have committed against society? Admitting you are a gang leader should be sufficient to have you arrested and incarcerated, not making any truce. There needs to be no inquiry into any gang related activities by the Gang Suppression Unit. they are doing their job. Make gangs nonexistent .I’m tired of hearing complaints about Police brutality from these scoundrel .The Gang Suppression Unit should be renamed the Gang Elimination Unit and be given Power by any means neccessary to protect the Belizean Way of life. Either the gangs prevail or Law Enforcement no two ways about it .
Why do we have to put up with gang in Belize, the police know who those people are so get them all lock up and throw away the keys. To me no country should put up with this nonsense as those gang members are local terrorist and they are only 200 of them. Do like what the GREAT USA do no negotiation with terrorist just kill them out. Enough is enough stop the crying and deal with them by any means necessary. Look at Young on the TV we will deal with the Police by blood shed but we will try to hold it down that is a treat and should not be tolerate, we have a GOOD minister who mean business so when he deal with them I hope that all Belizean endorse it to stop crime. It will be hard for the Minister in the beginning but we all know that Mr. Barrow will go down as the Best Prime Minister Ever as He will put an end to this madness.
the media recognizes those people as gang members, come on… pple should be arrested and charged for being gang members. all this non sense of gang truce and recognizing street gangs should stop. gangs should be dissolve by any force necessary because they are a menace for the community. The same gang members say they can retaliate against the police. what does this means? it probably means that they are armed with guns and stuff like that.
What should be done is detailed investigation of all the criminal acts committed by those so call gangs. and dissolve gangs in belize completely.
How many gangs are there in belize city? i dont know, but i believe that the members are not that much, hence its much easier to get rid of them.
It is actually a great and useful piece of information. I am glad that you shared this useful info with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.