State of Emergency Expires After One Month; Men Released

The month-long state of emergency aimed at curbing gang violence in Belize City and nearby areas has officially come to an end. While Police Commissioner Doctor Richard Rosado had initially suggested extending it for up to six months, that idea has now been shelved. Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa told us over the weekend that after meeting with Commissioner Rosado and other officials last week, they decided not to extend the SOE. We caught up with him at an event in Belize City, where he shared more about the decision.

 

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs

“We did have a meeting last week with the eastern division as well as the specialized Unit in terms of a plan moving forward, a strategy moving forward. I am pretty confident, comfortable with all the plans that were devised by the minister and all the officers, so you will see some of the strategies playing out over the coming weeks and months.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Why not extend the state of emergency?”

 

Kareem Musa

“We did not feel like it was necessary at this point in time. As you know, a month ago, or a month and a half ago, there was that spike in crime and based on the information coming out at that time there was bound to be some retaliation. Since the young men have been under the state of emergency we have had mediation sessions, interventions. We have arrested in two of the cases, two of the murders, we have arrested the suspect sin those cases. We have taken a lot of guns off the streets. So you can see in that period where we were able to quell the crime and reduce the tensions of the streets. So we are hoping the mediation sessions carried out behind prison will have great effect and upon their return to society there will not be that continuation of crime and violence.”