7 News Belize

The Community Meeting To End Crime
posted (May 19, 2010)
Nigel Petillo and his Belize Youth Grassroots Empowerment Association have been much in the news since the death of their fellow Belmopan resident Aubrey Lopez. Petillo has staged a demonstration and last night held a town meeting to gather ideas on how to roll back the crime wave. It was held last night at the YWCA where it drew a full house. Here's more.

Jules Vasquez, Reporting
A cross section of the community came out last night to hear and discuss proposals on how to deal with the all enveloping crime crisis. The event was organized by the Belize Grassroots Youth Empowerment Association. The emcee was its leader Nigel Petillo who issued forth wide ruminations on politics, police, religion, athletes and reform.

Nigel Petillo, Belize Grassroots Youth Empowerment Association
"You see it doesn't take one administration or one term to fix it. The UDP won't be able to do it in one term. The PUP have not been able to do it in two terms and we the community have not recognized that both governments have been failing period, both government have been failing."

The strength of the event came from the community members who spoke out.

Paul Cassanova, Pastor
"We as a people of Belize have sat too long, some benefit and some not benefit. Let us not fool ourselves, the Southside did not get like that overnight. I am a product of Southside. Born in Corozal but lived in the Southside since I was eight. Plues Street, Rocky Road and George Street, so you can't tell me anything Southside. If I had not said that, you wouldn't even know that I came from there. "

Easy Glen
"How could you look at Easy Glen and tell Easy Glen 'be bold' if I saw a murder. Let us be real right now, lets us talk sense, let us come down to gravy. If I say I say you killed someone, I would be dead before the next day. Bullets will fly through my plycem house. Let us be real, man. I am telling any ghetto youth this, that anytime they go behind prison, brethren, that is when they know what is bawling, when their mother don't come and visit them. Because I went through it, I did eight years without a visit. And I am here to tell anyone this, it start out from home, you start to steal from granny purse. After that you start to thief pint bottles, you start stealing your neighbor's pint bottles and clothes from there you start to steal from the neighbor's yards, wheel barrow anything that you can find. After that you start to break in their homes and rob them. I am telling you that that is how it started right. Majority of those young boys you see out there are like puzzle just waiting for someone to step them up. Majority of them do not have a father. They were raised up by single parent."

Howell Longsworth, Pastor
"Our children have been crying out for help. Somewhere or the other not only the church but families, not only families but social organizations. All of us have to take the responsibility. We have failed the children."

Darwin Puppy Leslie, Basketball player
"I just want to represent myself quickly to the public to let them know that in regards to basketball, which is what we are using to try to get to the youths. We have a camp every Saturday at Bird's Isle or at the SJC Gym at 9 o' clock. We welcome anyone, we don't turn away anyone at anytime. I just want everyone to know that is present if you have any kids, if you know any youths, send them."

Taking it all in was the team from the Prime Minister's office tasked to spearhead a new anti-crime initiative.

Marydelene Vasquez, Coordinator Anti-Crime initiatives, PM'S Office
"It is not an intention of the government to seek to do it all. It's been said several times here tonight and I'll repeat that. This is something that has to come from everyone of us. Everybody has a part to play. We need to identify was our roles are. We need to work together across partisan boundaries, across ethnic boundaries, we have to come together and decide that this is our city, this is our country and we are the ones that have to restore it. We don't want to come forward and have a knee-jerk reaction and say this is the plan, We really need to consult with a wide group of people. We need to consult within government and with the community. At this time the plan is to consult. It's very important, we believe, not to duplicate any of the efforts that are currently underway."

The event went until after 10 pm and was judged a success.

Nigel Petillo
"I am so glad we did this. I am feeling good to know that this room is filled up people like yourselves. In fact please give yourself a round of applause because I am telling it starts right here. "

The government initiative on crime will be unveiled on June second.

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