And while so many went to the funeral - and witnessed the procession - the city also partially shut down for it. The business shut down was effective today - even if all the businesses didn't shut down many did. And even many who opened this morning, closed their shutters this afternoon to pay respects to the funeral.
Andrea Polanco found out what it was like on Albert Street:…
Today downtown Belize City seemed almost liked a Sunday as few people were seen in the streets and most taxis were parked. Most importantly shutters were down at many of the big businesses on Albert Street including: Sikaffy's, Wellworth, Mirage, Whole Sale Plus and Doony's. Passersby gave their opinions on the shutdown:
Ernesto Robinson: Downtown Taxi Cooperative
"It does affect things on Albert but it's for the cause you know. A little girl in her bed dead, I mean that is too much. There is no justice in Belize. Everybody says the same thing over and over again."
Andrea Polanco
"So you think that the closing of the business kind of make things slower for the taxi operators than normal?"
Ernesto Robinson: Downtown Taxi Cooperative
"It is slower, but it's for the cause, right."
Andrea Polanco
"So you 100% support the cause?"
Ernesto Robinson: Downtown Taxi Cooperative
"Yes, all of us support the cause, but I think the Chinese business people suppose to be the first ones because they are the target ones."
Kent Brown
"Well I think it is a good thing. But then the Chinese community don't want join in with everybody else. They say that it's just a short notice but I think it is a different thing from that because when they had the shutdown nobody didn't join with them. I think we have to join the Chinese when they have a shutdown, that is what I think."
Man in the street
"Well I don't think it's really beneficial because that is not saying anything like make the youths keep it down from the crime you know. That is not really saying anything about the crime at all."
Andrea Polanco
"What do you think right now about the crime in Belize?"
Man in the street
"Well it's outrageous the law; if they can't execute people in Belize or at least cut off their trigger finger. If they don't want to execute them then cut off their trigger finger, make them spend time."
Grandmaster
"Well I am with it because desperate measures need to be taken in times like this. The poor little girl; my condolence goes out to the family and it's a passive action, its sending a message to people out there in higher society and to guys committing these hideous crimes against our own Belizean. They are Belizean like us. I say that it's about time we get down and put an end to all this madness. Only we can do it, nobody from the outside or under the ground can do it. It's about time they put down the gun and make the violence stop."
And while opinions on the shutdown were mixed, those who did open complained that business was slow because many shoppers stayed home in solidarity.
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