Breaking the Silence: Inside Belize’s Fight Against Domestic Violence

In tonight’s Five Point Breakdown, reporter Paul Lopez dives into a tough but important topic, domestic violence. It’s a complex issue, and for many victims, the road to freedom is filled with obstacles. From being blamed to facing financial struggles and slow responses from law enforcement, the challenges are real. We sat down with a survivor who’s still fighting to break free, and we also heard from policymakers about what needs to change, and how all of us, as a society, can help make that change happen. Here’s that story.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Twenty-seven-year-old Raisha Nicholson is a survivor of domestic violence who is still fighting for freedom, while fearing for her life. One of the hurdles Nicholson faces is that she shares children with her alleged abuser, making contact difficult to avoid.

 

Raisha Nicholson, Survivor, Domestic Violence 

“I said dah either he kill me and my kids and I end up the do something that I know I will have to live with on the end. So much people don’t have support system and they have to go back. It hard to leave a relationship when you are depending on that person and police don’t help because they do have woman that do go back and sometime that let police watch us like oh she gwen back. Still follow up with the situation. Maybe you could be that one police that make the person leave the relationship because she sees the help there.”

 

(Domestic Violence Reports Increasing)

New numbers from the Belize Crime Observatory are painting a troubling picture, reports of domestic violence are on the rise. One thousand, two hundred and seventy-seven domestic violence incidents reports were registered in 2024.  Victims are also subjected to rape and other forms of sexual abuse. What’s striking is that nine out of ten domestic violence reports came from women, most between the ages of eighteen and forty-five. Weighing in on the discussion, Minister of Health & Wellness, Kevin Bernard says every report to the police should be taken seriously.

 

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health & Wellness

“It is not just about when a wife or woman goes to a police station and make a complaint and they feel oh because it is husband and wife, they will get back today or tomorrow, they don’t take the complaint seriously. I think every complaint should be handled and taken seriously and has to be addressed and I think we need to do much more, I am going to say that openly.”

 

Raisha Nicholson feared for her life when she called police on Monday evening, after allegedly receiving death threats from her father’s children right outside her home. But she tells News Five her complaint wasn’t treated with the urgency it deserved, leaving her feeling vulnerable and unheard.

 

Raisha Nicholson

“And I the call 911 and they hung up, called again and they hung up and then the lady answer. So I explained, miss I need a mobile at forty-four magazine road, because me and my baby dad got in an altercation and he stoned me with a coconut and threatened to kill me and my kids. Weh part that deh. How you will talk to me so? The lady said, where? I said, the chair shop, gave the chair shop name and she hung up. She did not even let me explain. Now I am frantic already scared.”

 

When no police mobile showed up and the threat increased, her last resort was to reach out to a cousin who is also a police officer. And after Nicholson filed her report, she questioned what would be the next steps.

 

Raisha Nicholson

“I explained to him sir, I will not be a next woman on the news that they say her baby father or ex killed them. I told him because I am willing to go sit in jail knowing my kids safe and my life safe then that will happen. I told him because I am willing to go sit in jail knowing that my kids will alright, because I have family members willing to take my kids and I will be alright. And jail is better, because I don’t have to worry about light, food, water nothing.”

 

Nicholson’s case only really began getting attention after she took to social media with her experience.

 

Kevin Bernard

“I saw a social media post of another somebody who said her life was also threatened and so I shared that with the minister and said somebody needs to reach out and I understand they have already reached out.”

 

Police have since issued a wanted poster for the alleged attacker. But Raisha Nicholson’s story highlights deeper issues, like victim blaming and the harsh reality of being financially dependent on her abuser during the relationship. She says the violence escalated over time, making her journey even more difficult.

 

(The Fear of Leaving)

Thea Garcia Ramirez, Minister of Human Development

“People question why does she stay, why she nuh leff, she mussy like it, what happened in San Felipe is why women don’t leave, because they are fearful for their lives, because they are afraid, because one out of a hundred men or perpetrator are angry enough to do what this guy did. So when someone comes out and speak out, don’t tell her, oh why you wait that long.”

 

(It Takes A Community )

Since taking to social media, there has been an outpouring of support for Nicholson and testimonies from other women. She is now encouraging other women to speak up, while imploring her community to lend support to victims.

 

Raisha Nicholson

“I wah be honest, I have fear. I could act tough and defensive but I am afraid, because I know what I already suffered at his hands. I know what my kids suffered at his hands. So me picking up knife does not mean I am brave enough. Not because I curse means I am not afraid. But I will not show I am afraid, because if I don’t stand up for myself and my kids, who will. It has shown me that police won’t do it, so I have to do it.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez