Government Moves Toward Establishing Public Sex Offender Database

The push for a public sex offenders registry is gaining momentum at the highest level of government. Cabinet has now thrown its full support behind Special Envoy for Families and Children, Rossana Briceño, and her call to make that registry a reality. Prime Minister John Briceño says it’s more than just a proposal; the Office of the Attorney General is already working to bring it to life. For the Prime Minister, it’s a matter of protecting families and strengthening accountability. He shared what came out of Tuesday’s Cabinet discussion, and why he believes the move is necessary.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño 

“I think it is something that the time has come. There has been one but it has not been public. We brought it up in Cabinet and everyone jumped and says yes, we support the Special Envoy. I don’t think they want to be on her wrong side I guess. But, on a serious note. It is something that is necessary. There is certain tiers of reporting that has to be done and the AG brought it up and we said please, we support.”

 

Paul Lopez

“How do you think it will benefit children?”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño 

“Well if you know there is a predator in your community and you see that person by the corner shop and you see that person there, obviously it should give us another layer of protection.”

 

Belize already has a sex offender registry maintained by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Police Department, but it is not accessible to the public.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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