Crime Spike in Belize City Prompts Urgent Response from Officials

Violence is once again casting a shadow over Belize City, and the pressure is on officials to act. So, what’s the plan to stem the tide? We put that question directly to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Chief Executive Officer Rear Admiral Elton Bennett says authorities are rolling out targeted strategies to confront the recent spike in crime and restore a sense of safety, particularly in the city’s most affected areas. Here’s how he says they’re tackling it.

 

Rear Admiral Elton Bennett, CEO, Ministry of Home Affairs

“The police department under the commissioner of police have reassigned some resources to do some targeted operations. He has rightly assigned some investigators and intelligence section to try to be proactive in identifying those conflict areas to be more proactive in deconflicting those tensions that exist within the different groups. So I know there are additional efforts and resources deployed across Belize City to achieve just that. And at the same time the efforts for the LIU is likewise making every efforts to go in these communities to bring peace somehow. And my condolences to the families affected by these heinous crimes. As I mentioned, the police department and the ministry of home affairs apply every effort we can within the jurisdiction of these areas of Belize City. The fact that we are dealing with these hard criminals that place very little value on human lives goes beyond just the effort of the Belize Police Department. These are values that needs that needs to be improved in the families in the community. The values placed on life is at a very low standard in these individuals.”

 

Deadly Weekend Sparks Calls for Mira’s Resignation

 

After a deadly weekend, the political temperature is rising, and the blame game has begun. The United Democratic Party is now calling for Home Affairs Minister Oscar Mira to step down, arguing that the country’s escalating violence demands accountability at the highest level. UDP Senator Patrick Faber held nothing back, accusing Mira of incompetence and claiming the minister is more focused on personal gain than public safety. According to Faber, the fight against crime has taken a back seat, and he’s making it clear he believes it’s time for new leadership at the helm.

 

Patrick Faber, UDP Senator

“I was right there when we would have one murderous weekend and the prime minister move into action. He goes right there up in Racoon Street where the water the rain through right now and there would be a press conference and the prime minister would address the nation with the full top brass of the police. I don’t know if it is because the police no longer has a top brass that the minister, well the minister you have heard, and we make the call before we go any further. Minister Mira must go before he is completely impotent. The party leader highlighted all that he is doing for himself and his family. His objective, it seems to all of us, is to make himself and his family rich, make their pockets thick. That is his agenda. He has no agenda on fighting crime. He is not concerned about Dr. Bonilla whose daughter witnessed his murder, Mr. McKenize who was gunned down on Albert Street, with his children in car. This young man, Eric Nelson, twenty-five-years-old. I know Eric because he goes to St John’s Cathedral with me. Every Sunday Eric is in the Cathedral with his wife and young child. This is no criminal. This is a person who was wearing a red shirt in blue territory, and what does Mr. Mira has to say to Eric’s family.”

 

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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