Violence Shakes Bella Vista as Area Rep Responds

A village once known as a peaceful and close-knit community is now grappling with a troubling rise in violent crime. In recent weeks, Bella Vista in southern Belize has been shaken by a string of serious incidents, prompting growing concern among residents and authorities alike. Today, the Area Representative for Toledo East Dr. Osmond Martinez weighed in on what’s driving the violence and what must be done to restore safety.

 

Osmond Martinez, Area Representative, Toledo East

“Bella Vista situation is very sad. It’s one of the newest village in Belize. Nonetheless, it’s one of the largest village. It’s the second largest village. It’s a village that had, has always been known for being a peaceful village. You have hardly hear any negative outcomes from Bella Vista. But we believe that there is an inflow of negative knowledge that is being transferred, especially from other central American countries. But I must tell you that the government was already foreseen, that some of these issues or challenges might be faced in that village. And so we started to think and about the design and, and building of a new full-fledged police station rather than just a sub police station. We will need to add more technology into areas of Bella Vista such as surveillance camera, maybe an increase of street lights. And at the same time, to that the parents, the parents plays a critical role in this year that parents continue to lead the kids in the right way. That, that culture of which I grew up in Bella Vista. So that culture  that we had in Bay Vista, where one family would look out for another one. My message to Bella Vista is lets not forget our roots. Lets go back to where we come from and lets work as one family, one community.”