Neighbourhood watches – they may be the last stand against brazen
burglars – but the movement has been in decline. Now the Faber’s
Road community is trying to kick start it and they turned to City Hall for support.
I found out more today.
Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
He is Douglas Gabourel, the Chairman of the Faber’s Road Extension Neighbourhood
Watch Committee and for the past year he has determinedly worked hard to try
and protect the lives and property of the four hundred people who live in the
Faber’s Road Extension community that includes all that area from the
YMCA compound to the junction with the Faber’s Road Extension and the
Western Highway. A lot of ground to cover, so how does this neighbourhood watch
committee get the job done?
Douglas Gabourel, Chairman – Faber’s Road Extension Watch
Committee
“Because the area is so big, we decided to split it in three. So we
have zone 1, zone 2, and zone 3. In zone one where I am, I have 118 residents.
In zone two we are pretty much just about the same. Zone 3 a little bigger with
136.”
The Faber’s Road Extension Neighbourhood Watch Committee also works closely
with the Police, the Belize City Council and the Young Men Christian Association.
But the work to make the area safe and secured for its residents has had its
challenges.
Douglas Gabourel,
“We got the speed signs put up, 15 miles per hour which they are still
not obeying. We got the crosswalk put in for the kids to walk across and go
to the bus stop. Couple days ago somebody was taking down my speed sign. I got
really annoyed at it and I went on one of the talk shows and I explained myself.
Those signs are there for a purpose and the purpose is for the safety of the
children.”
The Committee’s main objective is to curb the incident of crime in their
neighbourhood although the Committee’s Chairman says it has not been bad
in their community.
Douglas Gabourel,
“I mean we can’t stop it but we can hold it down to the minimum
as we can. Because if everybody can get nosy and find out hey there is a stranger
coming in here, what are you doing here at one o’clock, two o’clock
in the morning then we can find out what you want in this neighbourhood. Who
are you, do you have relatives in this neighbourhood. Things like that we are
creating.”
Today the Belize City Council and its Mayor Zenaida Moya Flowers were acknowledged
by the committee for its support.
Zenaida Moya Flowers, Mayor - Belize City
“And really we want an additional upliftment to this area and I think
that the neighbourhood watch committees play a key role and we see it exemplified
right here and other neighbourhoods and I think you are symbols and examples
of what other neighbourhoods can do.”
Clara Cuellar, Executive Director – YMCA
“The YMCA is of the philosophy of mind body and spirit. So we are
endorsing the positive programs for the children while keeping them in school
and helping them to be promoted. We have a lot more parents involved as a result
of our unifying efforts and yes we hope as the council comes onboard with the
leadership of the Mayor that we’ll have even more participation.”
Douglas Gabourel,
“Cleaning up the area, the old cars that harbours criminals, cleaning
up the lots them that same thing again are harbouring criminals, broken down
homes that nobody lives in – we’ve identified all of these and we
sent a list to the City Council and said these lots need to be addressed and
they have been doing it. I cannot say nothing bad about it and I am really glad
for it.”
Today the Committee’s Chairman Douglas Gabourel called out on
all residents living in the Faber’s Road Extension area to actively participate
by attending the monthly meetings.
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