BELIZE CITY, Wed. Mar. 30, 2022– As part of a Ministry of Home Affairs initiative aimed at steering youths who live in gang zones, away from a life of crime, the Leadership Intervention Unit embarked on a school outreach program earlier this week. On Monday, personnel from the LIU made a stop at the first of several Belize City schools that the unit plans to visit: Maud Williams High School. Then, on Wednesday, March 30, the LIU went to Gwen Lizarraga High School, where they spoke with 30 teens of varying ages.
“What transpired is a school outreach program that we’re presently having within the different schools in Belize City. This is a collaboration the Leadership Intervention Unit is doing with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and, of course, the Police Department, the Community Policing Unit. We’re trying to wrap around service to support students who are in school. We know that many times gangs target young boys and girls going to school, and we think it’s very important to engage [with] these young people who are in school to make sure that they understand that there’s a support system that is available to help them get through school and life in a whole in Belize City,” explained William Cadle, chairman of the LIU.
Cadle further remarked, “It’s no secret that parenting is an issue here in Belize. In some instances, some of these young [people] really don’t have that level of nurturing and assistance from their parents, and we can not play a blind eye to this. It’s really evident in the classroom setting, and when you meet these young people, the lack of respect and discipline, and so in that regard we are very much cognisant that it is important to look at the root cause of crime and violence.”
Anthony Campbell, a former member of the PIV gang, accompanied the members of the unit on their visit to the two high schools and spoke to the students.
“In life, you need to have people that will help guide you. Sometimes we out here don’t have someone that can we can express our problems to, somebody to talk to, because some people feel because they are [a] certain level, so you’re nobody. But [few] things someone listens and says can make a difference in a youth’s life. This can make a youth be someone different, even though we’re not seeing it. Some are here laughing and some are taking it seriously. Like right now, a little one said that he wants to talk to me. Why? Because he feels the inspiration,” said Campbell.
The LIU chairman noted that the Ministry of Home Affairs has been conducting a family needs survey, which has entailed interviewing “different families to find out what their needs are” in an effort to determine “the necessary assistance that some of these family need and create that support system holistically for all the individuals across the country.”
He pointed out, however, that “Belize City is where the hub of violent activity [is]”, and thus the initial efforts of the unit and the Home Affairs Ministry will be targeted at Belize City youths and their families. “…We’re starting here and then we branch out to the districts,” he said.