Dear Editor,
Since the recent murders in the Twin Towns, people in the Cayo District have become increasingly vocal about their concerns to reduce, and if possible end, the hideous crimes afflicting our society.
No number of demonstrations, no whipping of criminals, no person hanged, will ever be able to heal the void left in the lives. The reason for standing up against crime is really to make sure that more families do not experience the hurt, frustration, suffering, and emptiness such families have had to bear. I extend my sincerest sympathies to all Belizeans who have had to experience criminal activity, especially to the families who have lost their loved ones, particularly the Martinez and Lowe families.
Belizeans are on the move advocating for change. This does not constitute a movement. It is an early stage. It can either become something episodic and die off, or mature and become effective in its cause. I hope it becomes the latter; and for this reason I shall refer to it as a “movement.”
In this entry, I address concerns against the critics; highlight points left unmentioned in the media, and project the challenges and opportunities for a reformist movement to drastically decrease crime.
The Movement
The demonstration on Thursday (Oct. 11, 2012) had a massive turnout. The participation of these students added to the great turnout. Some media have stated that it was thousands of people. However, a more accurate figure is that by the Star Newspaper, which estimated 1,500 persons.
If the movement is to become effective, it has got to organize. The 8-point petition sent to the Prime Minister on Monday (Oct. 8, 2012) was signed by the “Solidarity Movement for Justice and Peace.” While this term was used to project the unification of various bodies involved, the said group is not organized. I am unaware of who is the president of the Solidarity Movement. Many of its supporters were given opportunities to talk at the demonstration, yet, there was no real talk of unification as the Solidarity Movement.
There is a need to establish a committee which will have representatives from the various bodies of the neighbourhood watches, Teachers’ Union, the business community and so on. My suggestion is that the Purple Movement leaders take the initiative to develop such committee, establish a clear vision, plan, execute, and develop means of sustainability.
By the way, where is the NGO “Belizeans for Justice?”
The only positive suggestion
At the Wednesday public meeting with the Attorney General, Wilfred Elrington, in his response to a series of suggestions, complaints, and questions, the AG said that there was only one positive suggestion that he heard. That suggestion was to hold a telethon to raise monies for the establishment of an advanced forensic lab. This understandably caused great discontent. After one and two attendants decided to walk out, a group of youths at the back of the room also decided to march out, inciting others to do the same.
Interestingly, the young lady who gave the “only positive suggestion” is the president of the Purple Movement, Carmita Lemus, whose supporters were among the first to walk out. I have argued that this idea, while noble, should not be pursued. A better initiative is to raise funds for the movement to sustain itself.
More than that, according to 7News, the AG has stated that the walk out did not happen: “The reporter who obviously had his own agenda there, reported that the people left.”
Patrick Jones has made this known on his Facebook page, and most people are bewildered and outraged by such a statement by the AG.
Now, video footage does not lie; the people did walk out. It’s also on YouTube.
Revenge or justice
As to the request for capital punishment to be implemented immediately, the AG replied, “But I can tell you, I can tell you that only the suggestion of hanging a person that is made publicly in Belize, any suggestion that you make, we get all kinds of pressure from the people who keep us surviving.” This caused an expected disapproval from the gatherers.
I believe there are many benefits in human rights initiatives. However, capital punishment, particularly by hanging, is one of the cheapest means to create deterrence for the extreme violence in our society.
Some hope was increased for the penalty to be allowed since the Privy Council was replaced by the Caribbean Court of Justice as our final court of appeal. However, with one recent case submitted by Jamaica, it appears that the death penalty will not be supported. Beyond that, as the AG says, many international organizations will oppose.
European powers tell us that it is uncivilized to carry out the death penalty. Paradoxically, these are the same powers who exploited lands that were not theirs, enslaved millions, colonized us to the point that they became today’s “First World” countries, then “gave” us independence. These are the same people who developed every possible law to keep indigenous and non-European peoples from being masters of their own destinies.
Capital punishment is a desperate attempt to bring justice in the society and to deter others from pursuing a life of crime. I am truly not a big fan of capital punishment, but when I learnt that Belize’s prison system is the most humane amongst the countries of USA, Jamaica, Barbados, and St. Lucia, I realize that it is one of the reasons we have so many repeat offenders coming in and out of Hattieville (Gayle Report, 2010).
Now, criminal activity is a multifaceted problem and therefore requires a multi-layered plan of action to be effective. This means that present structures of political authority, education, economic planning, religion, and social institutions must be reformed. This should also be part of the goals behind the Purple Movement.
DNA Lab and the Telethon
While at the meeting, one lady cautioned me that it would be better to establish the DNA Lab before carrying out capital punishment. In the US, there are persons who have faced death innocently. Therefore, in Belize, there is a need to establish an advanced forensics lab. The government has sent out a press release that it will do so. However, the Movement must push for this.
The AG told attendants at the meeting that this will require one million dollars. Some people suggested selling Ministers’ vehicles, decrease their salaries, and abandon the new bridge project in the Twin Towns, etc. Why not?
The government can also start by incorporating forensic fields in the nation’s scholarship priority list. The listing should also include areas of research – history, sociology, psychology, criminology to increase the potential for Belizeans to become research-based problem solvers.
Cautions against Fundamentalism
There is a danger in allowing Christian fundamentalists to be given too much voice in this movement for justice. The problem, for me, generally lies in the fact that they will be able to push their own agenda afterwards. Also, for many fundamentalists, they generally believe that behind the criminal is the devil or some evil spirit.
Behind the criminals, however, is a major fault in the system and social structure, of which the church-state system is both a participant and product.
Some of the remarks I heard at the demonstration were unquestionably fundamentalist, such as the FECTAB’s president, Tom Greenwood, persuading the people that their voice represents the voice of God and that the government should take heed.
Also, members from Plus TV agitate for change, but do so in a very zealous, confrontational and fundamentalist manner. I predict that in a few years, their members will be candidates at both municipal and general elections.
It is a scary thing when people begin to believe that God is on their side to fight. This was so in ancient times, the Crusades, colonization, in the Middle East, and hopefully, not in Belize.
Ignite the Peace Initiative
The Ignite the Peace initiative was a collaborative effort among the student bodies of Galen University, Sacred Heart College Junior College and University of Belize. The UB students had the greatest turnout. About 5 buses filled with UB students participated. Galen and SHCJC each had fewer than a hundred students representing.
The students, however, were not vocally active. They were mainly there in numbers. Most of them awaited the torch runners, and then proceeded to head on home after their arrival. Hope Amadi, president of the UB student Government, had to inform students that the buses would be departing about 30 minutes after the torch runners had arrived.
Jason Andrews, from Plus TV, challenged the students to realize that they are adults. He clamoured that they have the final say in whether they must attend classes or remain at the demonstration. However, by this time most students had already proceeded to make their way to the buses near Hodes Place.
Additionally, the two speakers being used were not effective and most of the people were hungry. There was no food to be purchased because of the shutdown. This is why the Movement needs to get funds, for sustainability. High-powered speakers were needed and food should have been made available.
I am encouraged by the increase in number of students who turned out. Last year the University of Belize, through the Student Government, had managed to cancel classes to carry out a peace march in the central streets of Belize City. Only one bus departed from Belmopan, which was more empty than full. The number of UB students who participated in Belize City was extremely low. We were joined by the St. John’s students. Students in Belize aren’t active. It’s sad, very sad.
Some students say that nothing happens by marching; I say a march can foster unity and propel us to challenge the status quo. Most students take occasions like these for leisure. Oh, and their lack of participation is not because they are too serious, academics not wanting to lose a day of class. Trust me.
Partisan politics
In the Gayle Report (2010), of 92 children of age 6-13, 51 (51%) knew precisely which political party their parents support. Some children even suggested that they already support their parent’s political party. These numbers increase as they get older. Belizeans are socialized to remain committed to their family’s political party affiliation.
However, according to the Gayle Report, the shift from paternalistic blind-eye voting rates is directly related to the level of literacy and education level in the population. In 2010, only 7400 persons were enrolled at the tertiary level (2010 Census).
Some people have said that the Movement is primarily made up of supporters of the People’s United Party (PUP). This view is particularly recurrent on the Wave’s Radio talk show, whose speakers believe that everyone else except themselves have a partisan agenda. The reality of the matter is that on the day of the demonstration, Hon. Elvin Penner (UDP) pledged to be a member of the Purple Movement. Also, several UDP councillors of the Twin Towns have been active spokespersons and organizers of the cause.
Yet, it cannot go unmentioned that PUP supporters will find their way of speaking more often than others. This is because partisan politics is so influential in people’s behaviour. Known UDP supporters have a higher chance of being victimized if they speak out. Politicians will assume that they are UDP betrayers.
More than that, the young people, if they speak out, will be confronted by their families, who will warn them of the dangers of victimization. Beyond that, the young people are yet to become conscious that they can be powerful agents of change. Young people prefer to go to parties and get high, failing to realize that so many of our brothers and sisters are falling to crime and that one of us could be next.
My hope is that this movement can begin to challenge the general Belizean psyche that we are not entitled to question our representatives. As Amandala constantly reminds us, we, the people, have the power; power to the people.
The Purple Movement Committee, I am proposing, must establish rules about this. For example, if any member agitates for explicit UDP/PUP interests, he/she should be renounced publicly from being part of the movement.
And also, prohibit certain type of activities, such as the musical presentation by the Mendez duo at the demonstration. Overall, I like the composition and I have publicly told them this on YouTube comments. But “was George Price for us – Yes, in God he trust” and those sort of phrases will give the PUP the upper hand. Let it be a movement for social reform. That song was good for the September celebrations. As much as possible, be bipartisan. If the movement will advocate for a particular party, let it do so for a new revolutionist party comprised of revolutionary non-conformist youth.
Interestingly, the Purple Movement has issued a press release affirming their bipartisan status: “We the Purple Movement will not accept any political party or ex-affiliates into our executive or honourable membership. We, however, will not undermine, but welcome political leaders or ex-affiliates to support the movement as ‘customary members’ who can freely contribute and participate in our activities as citizens in our community, but not as political leaders or as a party affiliate.”
Attack the System
Attack the system! Attack the System! – Both political parties have allowed the system to remain relatively intact. Our high criminal rates are the result of both Red and Blue. If you are going to attack the Hon. Prime Minister of Belize, Dean Borrow, please remind Hon. Francis Fonseca and Hon. Said Musa and their companions that their actions have also led us to where we are. Don’t be fooled. Don’t run their campaigns for them.
Let me give an example of our faulty system. In education, 1/3 of our children are excluded from primary school; 60% are excluded from the secondary level; 2008 data stated that there is a 4% tertiary enrolment, which gives Belize some of the worse rates in Central America and the Caribbean (Gayle 2010, p. 110-114).
The 2010 Census informed us that only 2.4% of the population were enrolled at the tertiary level. These are, among other factors, such as underpayment for teachers, overcrowded classrooms, lack of qualified teachers, complicated management of schools, and the colonial education structure, which are interrelated issues which contribute to criminal activity. Similar attacks can be made on the political structure, Police Department, health and social services and so on.
Criminals must be laughing when they see peace-marches, shutdowns, and protests. They may even become more agitated. But we are not out to scare the criminals. These initiatives then must be directed against the System. Politicians, who are the principal policy makers, must be advised and pressured to make the necessary reforms to create a more inclusive and stable society.
Voice your concerns and challenge the system. Evan X Hyde recently questioned if Belize has achieved a better of quality of life since independence (Amandala). When one inspects that there was little change in many of the core intuitions established during colonization, one realizes that very little was achieved. We are in a state where a real revolution movement must take place to challenge the neo-colonial order that is not benefiting the public.
Belizeans, Belizeans, my dear Belizeans, think, think, think, and then act. Oh yes, act, we have got to act, realize that our realities depend on our inactions and ACTIONS.
Rolando Cocom
belizeanminds.blogspot.com
Key References:
Census Summary: Main results of 2010 population and housing census. Belize. Statistical Institute of Belize. Available Online.
Gayle, Herbert and et. al. Male Social Participation and Violence in Urban Belize: An Examination of Their Experience with Goals, Guns, Gangs, Gender, God, and Governance. Belize. Available Online.