So that was earlier today and this afternoon Brackett and Perry “Stix†Smith were arraigned at the Magistrate’s court. As we told you they, along with Clayburn Pascascio were charged with causing a bonfire to be set without police permission. The trio pled not guilty to the charge and were released on bail of $500. When the men emerged from court we challenged them on their alleged involvement in the Belcan Bridge Blaze. Brackett and Stix maintained that they had nothing to do with it.
Geovanni Brackett – President, COLA
"I maintain my innocence, during these heightened times and heightened period I'm expected that these kind of heat is to come down on me and I will remain that I am innocent until proven guilty."
Courtney Weatherburne
"And I have to make reference to the comments that you made at the same BNTU meeting; Angel and I were there. You mentioned, I have the transcript right here that's already taken out that you mentioned that COLA is in full support of the teachers 100%. And in your words: "So no bex if a lee road gets closed here and there, or a little tyre gets burnt here and there so we a show a little support a different way." I have the transcript here sir what do you have to say in response to that?"
Geovanni Brackett – President, COLA
"In the past we have had to participate in actions as those. Whether we organise it, whether we were the ones involved in it but we believe when people are upset that sometimes people have different ways of expressing themselves. That's why you have green peace, that's why you have defenders of wild life."
"What we don't do is violence, what we don't sanction is harm to property; we deal with civil constructive civil disobedience. Now I see a lot of things but did I sanction Belcan Bridge? That is what is going to be proven behind the court. I did not sanction Belcan Bridge."
Courtney Weatherburne
"It might seem like a coincidence that right after you made those comments at the BNTU tyres were lit on fire on the bridge. And again you maintain that you have no involvement but in the public perspective you made that comment a couple minutes before the same actions you alluded to in that speech actually happened so it's very hard to disassociate you from the..."
Geovanni Brackett – President, COLA
"You don't need to explain your question when you ask me a question. My answer I'm just maybe prophetic."
Perry "Stix" Smith - Organiser, Day of Healing
"Everybody know Stix da wa community activist. Any community, any organisation weh di step up fi Belize and Belizeans Stix wa deh right there fi observe and watch weh di happen. So I live on southside Belize, I was at the BNTU meeting; I have to cross Belcan Bridge fi go home you know that. So if the cross the bridge and I see tyres deh, I da wa activist of course, I no fool, I no simple, I see something the happen so I sit back and I witness whe di happen."
23 year old Adrian Avaloy and 2 minors ages 16 and 17 were also charged with causing a bonfire to be set without police permission as well as causing a hindrance to the free flow of traffic. They also pled not guilty and were released on bail of $500. All 6 will return to court on November 30th.
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