Violence at Russell Garcia Auditorium Draws Strong Reaction

Human Development Minister Thea Ramirez Garcia has condemned the actions captured in a viral video from the Russell Garcia Auditorium, calling it an unnecessary act of violence. The video, which circulated online earlier this week, shows Brian Swazo in a confrontation with a teenage basketball player, putting the National Sports Council under pressure. Officials say an investigation is underway to determine whether Swaso violated the council’s strict non confrontation policy, as questions mount over access control and management at the facility.

 

Thea Ramirez-Garcia, Minister of Human Development

“Working with teenagers and working with young people is certainly stressful. Teenagers are subject to a lot of things that in my age and time as a teenager they weren’t subject to, including, being recorded, including, it’s very different than thirty years ago, forty years ago. I still can’t believe, like I said, that people, instead of coming forward and saying, “Hey, that we don’t do that,” would sit there quietly and record whatever was happening and not step in to help and not step in to, to part whatever that was happening. I am sure that the, the officials at the Sports Council will take immediate cards in the situation because that certainly, you don’t put your hands on anybody. That’s certainly assault in my book.”

 

National Sports Council Director Jason Menzies responded to the video, noting his concerns about the incident and stressed the council is gathering reports and a police statement before drawing conclusions, urging Belizeans to apply equal scrutiny to both sides as the investigation proceeds.

 

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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