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Last week, Southside Commander Senior Superintendent Marco Vidal raised eyebrows when he said that gang mediators Dianne Finnegan, ACP Chester Williams and Nuri Mohammed should join in with an institution like the CYDP - rather than pursing their own agendas as independent mediators.  Dianne Finnegan bristled, while ACP Williams put up a Facebook post saying he was with an institution, one called the Police Department.  

So what does Minister of State with responsibility for Home Affairs Elodio Aragon think?  He was a former Eastern Division Commander himself and he echoed Dianne Finnegan in saying, the peace effort needs all the help it can get:…

Courtney Weatherburne
"Marco Vidal he mentioned that he would prefer if Chester Williams, Dianne Finnegan and the mediators joint the CYDP instead of doing the personal mediation sessions with the gang members to quote 'Push their agenda'. What are your thoughts your comments on that do you agree with him?'"

Hon. Elodio Aragon - Minister of State, Home Affairs
"Well first of all I didn't hear his comments but I everybody is entitled to their opinion. I do believe the intervention process is always an important step in trying to defuse the situation; where and how they do that is dependent on the personnel and how they feel is best to get the job done but I do believe the intervention process is important, I do feel that the police department should continue to engage and those who are interested in that we will not stop them from doing these things because I think at the end of the day whatever will help to reduce crime, we welcome it."

Courtney Weatherburne
"So you would recommend for Mr. Chester Williams and Dianne Finnegan to continue their mediation sessions and their interventions as well right?"

Hon. Elodio Aragon
"Well I don't think anybody has told them that they should not continue, that is what they are doing."

One noted academic has weighed in on the debate as well.  He is Greg Nunez, currently pursuing a Ph.D in the UK.  In yesterday's Amandala, he writes, quote: “There is an urgency…which requires all hands on deck, not competing elements….The State must, despite probable reservations, consider itself a facilitator and broker of the peace process. The CYDP is strategically placed to lead this charge. Its staff has been conducting mediation for years….Belize cannot continue to duplicate efforts by creating parallel systems.â€￾

http://amandala.com.bz/news/defending-institutions-fight-citizen-security/