Operations expected to take full effect on Friday, Nov. 9

By the time this weekend begins, Belize security forces—the police and Belize Defence Force—are expected to have full legal authority to carry out special operations across 5 square miles of Belize City which have been designated by the Ministry of National Security as “special areas” with “crime-ridden” status.

This will give cops, aided by soldiers, expanded powers to execute warrantless searches, as well as wider powers of seizure of property and arrest of suspects, as a part of a plan announced last week to stem a new wave of violent crimes which have citizens worried that the crime situation in the Old Capital has spiraled too far out of control.

Acting Minister of National Security, Erwin Contreras, signed the order today, November 8, and they were subsequently sent over to Print Belize to be published in the Government Gazette, Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of National Security, Ret’d Col. George Lovell has indicated to Amandala, adding that the order, declaring the special areas, will last for up to 30 days. The declaration is in accordance with Section 12(1) of the Crime Control and Criminal Justice Act.

“We intend to not just go with a heavy hand on criminals, but take back control of these communities from the hands of criminal elements,” said Lovell.

“It is hoped that this will also help to strengthen the overall partnership and cooperation between the public and the law enforcement agencies as we continue working together towards restoring safety and security throughout our communities,” said a statement from the Ministry of National Security.

The Acting Minister was only able to sign the orders after members of the Crimes Control Council (CCC) voted in favor of the proposition. Lovell said that with the exception of the representative of the Belize Bar Association, who had not had time to consult members, the other persons present at the meeting gave their unanimous support to have the five areas on the Southside of Belize City declared as “crime-ridden.”

Others present at the Crime Control Council meeting held Wednesday include Senior Counsel Michael Young (chairman), Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryl-Lynn Vidal, Chief Magistrate Ann Marie Smith, Women’s Issues Network executive director Carolyn Reynolds, Commissioner of Police David Henderson, and church representative Roosvelt Papouloute.

Lovell also sits on the Council. He said that only two members didn’t attend the meeting, and those are the representatives of the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Human Development.

The central concern of council members, said Lovell, is that as much as is practicable, civil rights of innocent citizens would not be trampled during the operations, and that operations would be confined to what the orders and the law say. Lovell said that the security officers are expected to conduct themselves in a professional and polite manner during the operations.

Kay Menzies, the representative of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry who sits on the Council, told Amandala that the Crime Control Council had a very spirited discussion on the issue yesterday, and they were very clear in seeking full assurance from the government officials that the law would be adhered to, in the hope that the crime situation would be successfully addressed.

Everyone has concurred, she said, that the crime situation in the City is out of control, and has to be addressed. Menzies added that the initiative has to be given a chance to work.

She told us that the CCC refused to move forward without certain assurances from government officials, such as an assurance that innocent citizens would not be negatively impacted by the measures.

Officials explained that the particular zones were chosen on the basis of incidences of violent crimes, for which up-to-date 2012 statistics were provided, she informed.

The officials also indicated that the “special areas” to be declared “crime-ridden” would rotate to include other parts of the City.

Amandala understands that the operations will, for now, focus on the Lake Independence area, and particularly the PIV gang territory, and will include locations in Gungulung and Rootsville, as well as portions of La Croix Boulevard, Police Street, Lavender Street, Jasmine Street, and Casuarina Street. However, none of the five special areas, by law, should span more than one square mile. They span portions of Southside Belize City between the Haulover Creek and the Western Highway, and mostly, if not entirely, west of Central American Boulevard.

As to why this particular area was chosen, CEO Lovell told us that the majority of the homicides and shootings which occurred in the past six months occurred in the areas being declared “crime-ridden.”

Lovell said that he hopes others will learn a lesson from the impending operations and not “bring heat on themselves,” since their area could be declared a “special area” as well.

The CEO told us that in addition to exercising their expanded powers of search, seizure and arrest against criminal elements, they would also engage community police, social workers and the Belize City Council in efforts to improve the physical appearance of the zones by addressing the problem of derelict vehicles and abandoned vehicles that may be used by criminals for their activities. He said that if there are situations where children are kept in conditions which require social intervention, that help will be available, as a part of the operations.

We asked Lovell if the Gang Suppression Unit (GSU), a special arm of the Police Department, would be engaged in operations to be carried out in the “special areas,” and he told us that as long as there is a need for them, they will be used, but that is up to the Commander of the Eastern Division Police Station, Elodio Aragon, Jr.

He said that police will move in sizeable groups and will clearly identify themselves when executing their operations.

Lovell indicated that to his knowledge, this is the first time government is invoking the law to establish “special areas” and designate them as “crime ridden” since the law came into force in the 1990s, almost two decades ago.

Opposition Senator Lisa Shoman, who represents the People’s United Party on the CCC, told Amandala that the Opposition, which also shares the public’s concerns over the crime situation, has agreed to support the measures on the condition that safeguards would be put in place to secure citizens’ rights, particularly the rights of the 90% of Belizeans who are law-abiding citizens.

On the question of the security forces being given power to search premises within the “special areas” without a warrant, Shoman said that government officials concurred that under law, it is required that such searches must be made on the basis of “reasonable suspicion.”

The Opposition also requested that an Ombudsman, whose office has remained vacant since last December, should be appointed as soon as possible; but in the meantime, justices of the peace should be available during operations, especially when dealing with minors.

Lovell said that the chair of the CCC has indicated that the role of the Council has been somewhat taken over by RESTORE Belize, a program under the Office of the Prime Minister.

He told us that next Tuesday, the Ministry of National Security is meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Human Development and RESTORE Belize to engage them in the special operations, because they do intend to bring those entities onboard.