Emergency Powers Cannot Replace Police Work, Panton Says

Why detain dozens of people under a State of Emergency when police can build cases against known criminal suspects? That’s the question Opposition Leader Tracy Panton is putting to the Briceño administration. During the UDP’s press conference on Tuesday, Panton accused the government of running out of ideas and relying on sweeping emergency measures instead of targeted police investigations. Here is how she puts it.

 

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition

“The reason the UDP felt very compelled to be here this morning to offer proposals for consideration is because the government is bankrupt of ideas. There first response is to engage in an unconstitutional, illegal, measure that has been taken to the Appeal Court that said we cannot use SOEs as a crime prevention strategy and while the commissioner sought to make reference to the constitution to say that it is constitutionally sound, if you provisions of article 18.B of the Constitution of Belize, it certainly does not in my view to provide for this SOE to be deemed constitutional. The police commissioner said, sixty. They know that there are sixty people. So why have we not held them to account. Why have we not done the investigation and collected the evidence to ensure their prosecutions are upheld. We know we these individuals are. This is not rocketing science. But yet we are casting a wide net, which has been deemed to be unconstitutional.”

 

Panton Says Belize Cannot Police Away Crime

 

Government may have new ideas for fighting crime, but Opposition Leader Tracy Panton says those proposals fail to confront what keeps violence alive. She argues that Belize cannot police its way out of the problem without creating jobs, strengthening communities and holding leaders accountable. For Panton, any serious national response must tackle the conditions that push people toward crime in the first place.

 

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition

“A second chance program for young offenders is a step in the forward direction. An invitation for the churches, NGOs and opposition to serve on some sort of national advisory committee is a step in the forward direction.  Curfew for children under eighteen is a step in the forward direction, however announcement alone is not a plan. Some of the suggested action do not give any detail on how they will be implemented in a timely and effective manner nor do they identify where the resources will come from and how the root causes of crime will be addressed. We contend that our national response must include accountable leadership, empowered communities, employment training opportunities and sustained partnerships for longer term solutions.”

 

The UDP has expressed its willingness to work alongside the government to address the national issue of crime and violence.

 

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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