Government Pushes Ahead to Establish Gun and Gang Court

After a weekend of deadly gun violence, the government is taking a tougher stance. Today, the Minister of Home Affairs, Kareem Musa, emphasized plans to establish a specialized gun and gang court to tackle cases swiftly and decisively. With more than one hundred and fifty firearm cases still tied up in the Magistrates’ Court, the new system aims to cut through the backlog, raise penalties for repeat offenders, and ensure justice is delivered. Whether that means convictions or clearing the innocent. Here’s more from today’s announcement.

 

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs

“First, I extend my sincere condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones over the weekend. The acts of gun violence that occurred are unacceptable. We grieve with you, and we are committed to holding those responsible accountable. The events of this weekend reinforce what we already know. Belize needs a dedicated response to the crisis of gun and gang violence. That is why our government has advanced the amendment to create a specialized gun and gang court. This court is designed to process gun-related and gang-related cases swiftly, firmly, and within the law. Once passed, we intend to increase the penalties for first-time offenders from five years to 10 years. And for second-time offenders, that penalty will extend from 15 to 20 years. The court will focus solely on these matters, removing them from an already overburdened magistracy.”