Dr. Adam Baird (center) receives a gift from Abbie Guillen (left) of Human Rights Research Project at UB along with Dr. Joyanne De Four-Babb (right) head of the Research Office at the Belmopan Central Campus, UB.
by Orlando Pulido (Freelance Writer)
SANTA ELENA TOWN, Cayo District, Sat. June 7, 2025
A sociologist from the United Kingdom, Dr. Adam Baird, launched a book on gangs in Belize at the University of Belize’s Central Campus in Belmopan, on Thursday, June 5. The book is entitled, “From South Central to Southside”.
A note from UB congratulated Dr. Adam Baird on the launch of From South Central to Southside—a compelling work that examines gang transnationalism, gender, and chronic vulnerability in Belize City.
Cover of Dr. Adam Baird’s book
The event last Thursday was hosted by the Belize Research Office based at UB. Head of the Research Office, Dr. Joyanne De Four-Babb said that Dr. Baird’s book is significant because it is one of the few books on gangs in Belize.
Author Dr. Adam Baird has stated that the book itself took twelve years of research and some $12,000.00 of his own money to produce. The 250-page book is being published by Temple University Press in the U.S, but the main distributor in Belize is Cubola Publishers, which is based in Benque.
“It is a history of the gang establishment and the rise of gang violence in Belize in recent history. So, it talks about the inception and beginning of gangs as many Bloods and Crips are deported from the U.S.A as early as the 1980s’; and then it charts the growth of gangs, how gangs fragmented and became more violent at the turn of the millennium, 1999 to 2000. It looks a little bit about state responses, negotiations, and the creation of the GSU, which is now the GI3, and how the government institutions have responded to gangs; and then it talks towards the end about solutions, sustainable solutions to gang violence. The core theme coming through is gender-based analysis, young men in gangs, and the role of young women and the vulnerabilities of these two groups,” explained Dr. Adam Baird.
He emphasized the role of social terrain in the Southside, Belize City. “I think the book fundamentally says it is the social terrain; so, the social and economic circumstances where gangs arise. You don’t get gangs coming from middle-class, North Side neighborhoods so much, that they tend to come from the South Side when you talk about Belize City. It is deeply connected to the socio-economic conditions of young people. If they don’t have options, then it is very easy for them to be attracted to, and join a gang as a way to generate identity, esteem, get a bit of money, a sense of belonging, and all these other issues. So, the book fundamentally says we need a slow form of security, which is a long-term development, so the South Side can rise out of its socio-economic marginalization and get on its feet. If that can be done, then the gang problem will dissipate; that is the fundamental proposal of the book.”
Dr. Baird emphasized to Amandala the vulnerability of young men and young women to gangs. He said that, while 90% of the victims of these homicides are young men, there is a gender dynamic. “Women can also play parts in gangs, but they are often victimized by gangs as well; they often suffer physical, sexual, and psychological abuse in the gang space. When we are responding, we need to think about young men and young women and how we can most effectively work with them to reduce gang violence,” he said.
The thought-provoking book From South Central to South Side can now be obtained by calling Cubola Publishers at 601-6408. It is being sold for $60.00 per copy.