Government Pushes for Constitutional Changes to Tackle Crime

Tonight, the Briceño administration is taking bold steps to tackle the growing threat of gun violence and gang activity in Belize. Prime Minister John Briceño has introduced a series of constitutional amendments aimed at strengthening the country’s legal tools to fight crime. One of the key drivers behind these changes? Conflicting High Court rulings on a 2020 state of emergency that have left the legal landscape uncertain. The Prime Minister explained that while his government plans to challenge the decision, the case won’t be heard until March 2026, when the Court of Appeal is next in session. In the meantime, these proposed amendments are setting the stage for what could be a major shift in how Belize handles national security and public safety.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Crime evokes strong emotions from the citizen of a country. Families and friends of murder victims, victims of rape and robbery, all citizens who cannot live in peace because of the lawlessness among them. They all deserve strong and decisive action from their government. A judge in a  recent case before the high court, pointed out that people should not and I quote, fail to be sensitive to the fact that human life is valuable and the state is responsible for creating an enrollment in which people can live in safety in circumstance where law and order prevails. To do otherwise is to surrender to laws of the jungle. I have publicly stated the government well appeal the recent decision handed down by Justice Nabie. Such an appeal could not come from hearing for at least nine months, in the March 2026 Court of Appeal Session. The state of uncertainty cannot persist for such a long period. So, this is why I am here introducing this, Belize Constitution the thirteen amendment bill 2025 because legislative intervention is necessary. It is no secret that successive government has used the emergency powers provided  to the state by the constitution of Belize in the interest of public safety or order or for preventing detecting or controlling crime in the country. There has been proclamation declaring a state of emergency in the southside in 2018 to 2020 and in 2021, 2022, 2023. There were additionally two proclamations in 2024 and one in May of this year. The data shows when an SOE is declared crime goes down dramatically, especially murder. Two recent high court ruling has created an uncertainty about the use by the state of this measure as of the public emergency powers to deceive, prevent and control crime.”