Jasmine Alert: It was launched in 2012 in memory of 16 year old Jasmine Lowe. Lowe was kidnapped and brutally murdered in Cayo. Over these 6 years, the founder Patrick Menzies along with his team have dealt with a number of missing and abducted children cases, the most notable one being the January 2017 case involving Chunox resident Anaseily Gonzalez. Her father allegedly kidnapped her and took her to Mexico. But it's through Menzies' work with the Mexican authorities that they were able to find Gonzalez. Well, Menzies hopes to have more successful cases such as this by bringing on key partners. Today Menzies held a press conference to talk about re-invigorating the program.
Patrick Menzies, National Executive Director, Jasmine Alert
"Today what we are doing is one recognizing and celebrating our 6th year anniversary and we are also talking about a couple marriages that are occurring. One, we are having a marriage between 4 Life Rhino team from Belmopan which is out of the US, works with a US company that is now, the executives in Belize have decided to help fund the Jasmine Alert program. For six years it has been out of my pocket, most of it 99 percent of it. But now we want to have that and recognize that. We are also doing a signature between us and BTL, a new contract. We are also doing one with SMART and then we have a MOA with the police department, so we are doing all that to get this thing back on track, we are now going to have the finance necessary."
"Also education, very important, education is on board, especially the teachers in the south."
Courtney Weatherburne, reporter
"Just for the members of the public, just to refresh their memory on the purpose of the Jasmine Alert, what exactly happens, what is the procedure behind it?"
Patrick Menzies
"Well, again if someone goes missing, the public is supposed to call 911 or go to the police station that is how it works. If you go there and talk to the cops and they are not helping, you are to ask for their commander or supervisor and then if you still don't get any help, they can actually call us."
"Once they have called us, we will contact police because that is their responsibility."
Courtney Weatherburne
"The specific role is just to make sure you engage the authorities?"
Patrick Menzies
"Actually yes, however we are going, that is our next step, our next step is to help with SAR, search and rescue."
If your child or if you know of a child who is 17 years or younger who has been kidnapped or is missing you can call the Jasmine alert toll free number at 610-5483. There is also the "WAY" or "where are you" campaign for those kids who run away from their home.
Email
Print