Voices Rise at Swift Hall: Belizeans Push Back on 13th Amendment

The crowd at Swift Hall today wasn’t huge, but the message was loud and clear. Belizeans showed up to speak out during a public consultation on the controversial Thirteenth Amendment Bill. The Briceño administration says the bill is all about restoring order in crime-ridden communities. It would give security forces expanded powers, including the ability to operate in so-called ‘special zones’ without needing warrants. It also proposes a dedicated gun and gang court; and, perhaps most controversially, it aims to retroactively legalize all past states of emergency, shielding them from court challenges. But inside Swift Hall, many voices raised a red flag, warning that this kind of unchecked power could open the door to abuse. And it wasn’t just those in the room, online users also chimed in with strong opinions. News Five’s Paul Lopez was there and brings us the story from the ground.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

It was not a full house at Swift Hall today, where lawmakers, police officers, union reps, NGOs, and everyday Belizeans came together for a frank and open conversation about the Thirteenth Amendment Bill. The big question on the table? How to bring back safety and order in communities where crime has taken hold.

 

Randall Sheppard, Assistant Solicitor General, Office of Attorney General

“As it states at e18 A (2), that the governor general on the advice of the national security council may by order publish in the Gazette, declare any area in Belize a special area in the interest of public safety or order for the purpose of preventing, detecting or controlling crime.”

 

One of the biggest sticking points in today’s discussion? The level of power the bill gives to security forces in these so-called ‘special areas’, including the ability to carry out operations without a warrant. That raised some serious eyebrows. And while some attendees backed the bill as a tough but necessary move, others weren’t so sure, voicing strong concerns about potential abuse of power.

 

Raymond “Footie” Gongora, Belize City Resident

“The thirteenth amendment, could I ask anybody from the panel that says they will have some gang areas locked down, what that means? Anybody could tell me what that means when they say they will lock down this area? Is it all the citizens in that area or just the gangs you the target?”

 

Molly Castillo, Belize City Resident

“Sometime they say we Belizean dah wah barrel a crab, anything we see the guh good dah like we wah ih go wrong. Mek we guh forward and not backward. I support the 13^th Amendment, thank you.”

 

Keith Yearwood, Belize City Resident

“When I saw the elderly and disabled got their lives taken away from them and I hear no one mention of their lives that just happen two three weeks ago, we have to take measures. It might sound drastic, but something has to get done.”

 

Walter Gillett, Belize City Resident

“I listen, unu seh bout, who is going to be a check and balance to ensure it does not get abused by the security force? Let us talk about that. And I see abuse happen with the security force right now before this law get implemented. So, who is going to be there to check the abuse. Who is going to police the police?”

 

The conversation didn’t stop at Swift Hall; Belizeans also took to social media to share their thoughts on the Thirteenth Amendment, and let’s just say, opinions were mixed. We asked, and you responded. Back inside the consultation, Deputy Commissioner of Police Bart Jones tried to ease some of the public’s concerns. He explained that while the bill gives police more authority in designated ‘special areas,’ there are still checks in place. Officers, he said, must have reasonable suspicion before taking action, something he insists will help prevent abuse of power.

 

Bart Jones, Deputy Commissioner of Police

“All other safeguards must be in place. There must be reasonable suspicion that these persons who are detained are connected with the crime situation at hand and as well in terms of the use of force, the police can only use such force as is reasonably necessary in the situation. So it is not cart blanche for the police to go out there, knock down doors. There has to be safeguard in place for the police to operate.”

Outside of the proposed amendment is a much bigger question, what are lawmakers doing to address the root cause of crime in these high-risk communities?

 

Sylvia Marin, Representative, Belize National Teachers Union

“Just like you guys said teachers are not suppose to punish and you remove corporal punishment from teachers and we found ways in which we can work with out students and build them and not break them. That is the same way we can do. You are entrusted with that, you are entrusted in doing that. Build them so we can have a better responsibility. Promote rehabilitation, not incarceration.”

 

Walter Gillett, Belize City Resident

“I don’t see the people implementing it go back into the community to find out why these youths are leading to crime. I think the country is full with wealth and we should have never been down this road. But the wealth is being shared with a few.”

 

Alfonso Noble, Talk Show Host

“It is my belief that targeted, social intervention will be a greater and more effective way of addressing the crime situation.”

 

Today’s public consultation process ran throughout the course of the day.

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez