Re: Concede the City

Should we really have to wait another five years to convert the Belize Defence Force into a law enforcement agency? Why don't we do it now?

Re: Concede the City

Touche!

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If the UDP Government would be a creative Government, they would have come up with the ideas that Mr. Smith just illustrated. Instead of wasting their energies in focusing on the past administration, the UDP Government should focus on issues that are important....use their creative skills to come up with solutions to the problem.

So far, the Modus of Operandi for the UDP....is blaming the past....what is up with that?

The past is gone...the present is all that we have. Mr. Barrow, please, please, please stop blaming others...you got to live in the present moment and come up with solutions that will help this country.

At the end of the day, you will be judged by what you have created not by what you have destroyed.

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I agree with John. It's midterm for the UDP. The time to do things their own way passed quite some time back.

Everyone with reasonable thinking will agree that crime is not created overnight and that the solution of crime-related problems take double the creation time. Yet, we cannot continue like this. A security guard was shot dead and all we get from the Ministry is a press conference. Our security forces need help in terms of resources and strategy, and until GoB acknowledges that they do, we will recover as quickly as an alcoholic in denial would.

It is good to be academic about crime since it provides a wider understanding of it, but the UDP need not be academic. We understand well enough the nature of crime here. We need tangible results now, and those results can be realised even with a police force widely seen as being corrupt.

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I believe that Mr.Barrow is an arrogant man. He thinks he is perfect, he doesn't want to hear anyone's opinion...just his own and that is why he will destroy his own party.

He should be a humble leader. A leader that listens, a leader that cares, a leader that loves Belize. A leader that is respectful. A leader that doesn't criticize anyone. I do not think Mr. Barrow has any of those skills. It is all about his ego! It is all about his achievement!

He can do great things for this country....if he would be more humble, if he listens more, if he involves both the private sector and public sector to solve the problems. He will never do that and that is why he will fail. He will fail terribly, and he will be remembered as a complainer. As a leader that destroyed this nation.

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Where can I find a list of the agencies in Belize working on these issues that Mr. Smith mentioned?

family values
unemployment
poverty
teenage pregnancy

Where in the country are they based? What are their struggles? What are their successes?

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Here are some agencies with whom the Belize Government would probably want to stenghten their ties at this time:

Women's Department -- (seems to be busy and getting things done strictly based on my findings from news archives ...)

Y.W.C.A. (Young Women's Christian Association --

Youth For the Future -- serves at-risk youth in Belize City; according to a Feb 2010 article on Channel 5, this organization was struggling with the "padding of the payroll, lack of resources and especially particularly inadequate funding from the Ministry of Youth and Sports." The director of the organization told the reporter, "I strongly believe that we need some strength within that (Ministry of Youth) ministry."

SPEAR - The Society for the Promotion of Education and Research (SPEAR) [...] formed in 1969 with the aim to contribute to the making of modern Belize through increased national and political consciousness and people's participation...
http://www.spear.org.bz/prog.html

Would be helpful to have some overview of how these different agencies are functioning in Belize.

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Hate to say this, but I've always heard negative comments about NGOs in Belize. People seem to be very cynical about their effectiveness and have very low trust in how they spend their grant monies. Such a public perception would make it difficult for some of these well-meaning agencies to succeed in the wider fight against crime.

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it is hard indeed student but, but, but, it is not impossible. where there is a will there is always a way.

i wish dean barrow could along with his ministers could read more about the causes of crime...they do not know whe di go an ina dis country.

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it is hard indeed student but, but, but, it is not impossible. where there is a will there is always a way.

i wish dean barrow could along with his ministers could read more about the causes of crime...they do not know whe di go an ina dis country.

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Yeah .. that "inexplicably nonchalant, fatalistic attitude" that Mr. Smith mentions is unnerving.

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it is hard indeed student but, but, but, it is not impossible. where there is a will there is always a way.

i wish dean barrow could along with his ministers could read more about the causes of crime...they do not know whe di go an ina dis country.

Re: Concede the City

it is hard indeed student but, but, but, it is not impossible. where there is a will there is always a way.

i wish dean barrow could along with his ministers could read more about the causes of crime...they do not know whe di go an ina dis country.

Re: Concede the City

it is hard indeed student but, but, but, it is not impossible. where there is a will there is always a way.

i wish dean barrow could along with his ministers could read more about the causes of crime...they do not know whe di go an ina dis country.

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I was shocked this morning on channel 5's OYE to hear Miinister Perdomo talking about introducing "lawful intercept" where they would listen in on certain people's conversation to get police intelligence.

Nice idea, but if you can't get basic police work done right what makes them think they can handle high tech policing. Get real! Stick to the basics, boys.

Re: Concede the City

it is hard indeed student but, but, but, it is not impossible. where there is a will there is always a way.

i wish dean barrow could along with his ministers could read more about the causes of crime...they do not know whe di go an ina dis country.

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Lawful interception has been around for years.The USA insituted their first law governing lawful interception in the 60s.
50 years later, I say, let the Belize police force give it a trial run. Isn't this part of the solution? Improvement in technologies?

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It probably won't run too smoothly in the first 5-10 years+ with some of the corrupt police officers-- might be used illegally ... but it's a start.

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Very good article, Godfrey. It seems that no-one is immune from this "high water mark of crime" that has been rapidly escalating. My home was burglarized just this past weekend -- around 8:30 PM!!! The burglar(s) had obviously studied our movements for some time before making their move. It is utterly disconcerting (to say the least) to realize that one is being watched. In the face of all this crime, there seems to be growing public opinion to bring back hanging. On this, I side with the minority. Almost exactly 8 years ago, in the midst of escalating crime, I wrote an article entitled "Hang ‘em high: will this solve our crime problem?" The article can be viewed at: http://sites.google.com/site/osmanysalas/articles/capital-punishment. Crime is as brazen now as it was back in 2002, maybe only more frequent.

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To Osmany: Glad to see that there is someone who else who isn't taking the shortsighted notion that hanging will solve our problems! It's really disheartening to see the results of those polls. Like the government, it seems like many Belizeans are also neglecting to look at the underlying issues of crime. Everyone just wants the quick "solution."

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To Osmany: Neat!!! I see you have addressed my question regarding the function of NGOs in Belize and Government cooperation. Will give it a read!

http://sites.google.com/site/osmanysalas/articles/ngo-government-cooperation

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To Osmany Salas - i enjoyed reading the article on capital punishment and i do agree that government is not the solution to the problem - we belizeans are the solution to this problem.

i think we have to move from that party poltics - that is what is dividing this country.

at the end of the day, we are all belizeans and crime affects everyone.

sorry to hear about the bulgary that occurred at your house.

it is happening everyday...we need hope and opportunity. i think that all the newspapers in Belize should stop writing about crime and instead write about how we can unite this country and move forward.

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Godfrey, you have spoken a mouthful on the crime sutuation but is anyone listening. When we have a PM cutting the budget to the Ministry that needs it the most, it makes you wonder, down what path are we being led.

Criminals have been toutored for the past 20 years in how to better commit a crime and at the same time, they have learned how to best the police and how to intimidate the judicial system. Face facts, the criminals are smarter than the ones trying to catch them.

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To Osmany Salas - i enjoyed reading the article on capital punishment and i do agree that government is not the solution to the problem - we belizeans are the solution to this problem.

i think we have to move from that party poltics - that is what is dividing this country.

at the end of the day, we are all belizeans and crime affects everyone.

sorry to hear about the bulgary that occurred at your house.

it is happening everyday...we need hope and opportunity. i think that all the newspapers in Belize should stop writing about crime and instead write about how we can unite this country and move forward.

Re: Concede the City

To Osmany Salas - i enjoyed reading the article on capital punishment and i do agree that government is not the solution to the problem - we belizeans are the solution to this problem.

i think we have to move from that party poltics - that is what is dividing this country.

at the end of the day, we are all belizeans and crime affects everyone.

sorry to hear about the bulgary that occurred at your house.

it is happening everyday...we need hope and opportunity. i think that all the newspapers in Belize should stop writing about crime and instead write about how we can unite this country and move forward.

Re: Concede the City

To Osmany Salas - i enjoyed reading the article on capital punishment and i do agree that government is not the solution to the problem - we belizeans are the solution to this problem.

i think we have to move from that party poltics - that is what is dividing this country.

at the end of the day, we are all belizeans and crime affects everyone.

sorry to hear about the bulgary that occurred at your house.

it is happening everyday...we need hope and opportunity. i think that all the newspapers in Belize should stop writing about crime and instead write about how we can unite this country and move forward.

Re: Concede the City

Very good article, Godfrey. It seems that no-one is immune from this "high water mark of crime" that has been rapidly escalating. My home was burglarized just this past weekend -- around 8:30 PM!!! The burglar(s) had obviously studied our movements for some time before making their move. It is utterly disconcerting (to say the least) to realize that one is being watched. In the face of all this crime, there seems to be growing public opinion to bring back hanging. On this, I side with the minority. Almost exactly 8 years ago, in the midst of escalating crime, I wrote an article entitled "Hang ‘em high: will this solve our crime problem?" The article can be viewed at: http://sites.google.com/site/osmanysalas/articles/capital-punishment. Crime is as brazen now as it was back in 2002, maybe only more frequent.

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Godfrey wrote: "The high tide of criminality stems from socio-economic neglect which has to be sustainably addressed by government leaders over a long period of time.
Appropriate educational and technological investment was not steadily being pumped into the police department to prepare it to match expanding criminality."

Basically, Godfrey is saying that 'tings haad out yah & di police to stupid.'

Personally, I have a problem with equating the escalating crime rates in Belize, with economic conditions on the ground. We are NOT witnessing crimes of poverty; instead, the rise in violent crime is simply OPPORTUNISM. As Godfrey noted, the witnesses that are reluctant to testify in court are not there to identify a bread thief . . . instead, they witnessed murder. We cannot fix crime (in Belize) by fixing the economy . . . that is fools gold and political double-speak.

Regarding the "stupid police," I have always been leery of "the thin blue line" and the false sense of civic duty that can be placed upon them.

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I agree that we need to use the BDF as a law enforcement agency. Hell, we put a lot of money in the budget to cover their training and maintenance. We can no longer afford to be hitting crime with a silk glove. We need to send our soldiers to the streets and bring crime down to its knees, especially organized crime. Mexico is doing just that, only that they took very long to do it. Now, it is costing lots and lots of lives. Many Mexican heads are literally rolling on a daily basis. We should also make prison less confortable than it actually is for prisoners. Of course, all this should go hand in hand with the proper implementation and follow-up of socially-beneficial programmes from government and genuine NGOs.

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Fighting crime needs to be multi-pronged and will need bi-partisan support.Whenever the present gov`t changes the next one will need to take the same approach and continue the fight with the same focus.For the last upteen years,all opposition parties have blamed the other for the crime situation and promised to be tougher on it when they win;It`s happening again.When the poor see well connected people getting away with "crime", what do we expect them to do? When last has a big drug dealer been caught, let alone convicted? Do we for a moment think the street guys on the Southside are bringing in drug planes and boats? How bout the grenades and automatic weapons? Some fool doing a ride-by shooting is a crime ringleader? Cho! We have to fight the criminals big and small with science while doing the socio-economic side with equal zeal.It will be a long war because crime does pay but it will take the major parties working together with the Belizean people....Of course,judging from the people commenting on this column,I`m not waiting to exhale!

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To Lorenzo: Have you ever visited our prison to know that it is comfortable? I keep hearing that, and I've tended to join in the bandwagon too asserting that it is, even though I've never been there.

I realize now that I would have to see it for myself before making an opinion.

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To Rob: Good point on the big fish untouchable criminals in Belize. Mr. Smith mentioned that "strategic thinking must go into preventing the incipient spread of criminality into other areas of the city and the country like San Pedro, the Cayo District and Hopkins and Placencia which play a vital role in generating hard currency."

Belize's drug barons have strongholds in some of those areas, especially San Pedro and Placencia. The strategic thinking will have to take that into major consideration.

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To Student:

Yes I have.

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You academics make me sick. What do any of you know what it takes to patrol the streets of Belize City, knowing that the criminals are better armed and unafraid to kill you in cold blood? When the police is forced to take action to defend citizens from the wanton murderers in our midst we are lambasted in the media. You want security but don't want to make the sacrifice. Then you come to forums like this one and talk a lot of rubbish. Godfrey Smith, you had a chance when you sat around the Cabinet table. Now you speak as though you have been bestowed the wisdoms of the ancients. Osmany Salas, you have never worked a real job in your life. You would piss your pants if you saw what I see everyday. As for the rest of you, get off your asses and be productive. Help us police officers to make this country better.

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When we get off our asses, we need direction in order to help. Tell us, P.C. how we can help the police officers?

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Was reflecting on P.C.'s comment today ... thinking more police officers like P.C. should present themselves to the media and give their ground perspective of the situation. We hear about statistics, strategies etc. from gov. officials and the commissioner, insights from the academics, but maybe hearing the story of just a regular day or week in the life of your patrol officer on the street might be a powerful addition to the big overall crime discussion. I don't know any police officers personally, so I certainly never get to hear about the stuff P.C. says would make us piss in our pants, well apart from the stories reported through the media.
Invite a journalist to tag along with you on the job -- could be a special on TV or the radio. Share it on YouTube.

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P.C.'s comments raise a lot of questions and inconsistencies. Questions that the police themselves and their leaders need to be asking themselves. Read the Crooks Report. By the way, P.C., pray tell: what is a "real job"? Are some jobs more "real" than others? Are some jobs "unreal"? Hmmmm....

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OK! So according to yesterday's news report from Channel 7, the Belize City Mayor will be presenting some proposals to combat crime after having attended a conference in Bogota, Columbia a few weeks ago. Part of her 46 proposals include COMPULSORY CHURCH ATTENDANCE AND BIBLE STUDIES!!! This has to be the most backward, archaic solution I've ever heard these days to combat crime!! Absolutely ridiculous!!

While Bogota's efforts to delcine their crime rate is impressive, this is not something we need to adopt (if is something she is taking from the conference) from them to move our country forward. There other cities who have successfully combated crime without this nonsense!!!

http://www.7newsbelize.com/index.php#story5