“Clean Up or Shut Down”:  NEAB’s Ultimatum on Carnival

“Carnival must clean up, or shut down!” That is the call from the National Evangelical Association of Belize (NEAB) following the viral video of a reveller dancing on a child during Monday’s Orange Walk Carnival Road March. 

NEAB said it was “disgusted” by what it called an “abusive sexual situation” involving a child.

The association said this is the second incident in three years in which a child was allegedly involved in simulated sexual acts during Carnival celebrations. “If there will not be firm boundaries set, terminate it. Carnival must clean up, or shut down.” 

Carnival Public Display Involving Child Faces Possible Legal Action

The video of the incident has been removed by Facebook for violating its child sexual exploitation policy.  

NEAB is demanding police enforce existing law against any adult involved in the incident. “Are we ignoring the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child? If there are no consequences to Monday’s actions, the answer would sadly be YES! We call upon our Government and the Police to enforce our already existing laws! The adults involved in these sexual offenses with children should be arrested,” it added.  “The mother allegedly did the videoing and posted it! If so, she should be arrested also!”

The group warned that continued inaction sends a strong message, stating, “laws without consequences are mere good advice.”

During today’s police press brief, Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith addressed the incident involving the child. ASP Stacy confirmed she was not aware of the video circulating online, but assured that Human Services has a mandate to investigate these incidents. 

She added, “Any abuse concerning a child, that discretion is not left on the parent to decide whether or not actions should be taken.”