We also asked the Police Commissioner about this new-found spirit of anti-violence that the members of these two warring gangs are trying to encourage among themselves.
He said that police will always welcome positive interventions to de-escalate gun violence on the streets:
Chester Williams- Commissioner of Police
"You would know, Ortiz, that after the gang State of Emergency lapsed, one of the agreements between all those gang members who were involved was that they would put down the guns and hold the peace. You would also know that within that process we were able to remove over 30 firearms out of the hands of these various gang members. In continuing with ensuring that the city remains peaceful, CYDP and brother Nuri have been exceedingly busy dialoguing with the different groups with a view to address any situation that may evolve. And that, I must say, has been going quite well. And I know that yesterday Mr. Barrow, Shyne, had a father's day where he invited members of George Street and Taylor's Alley. As you know, back in March, April there was intense rivalry between those two groups. And so, he was the one that facilitated that event yesterday. It has nothing to do with the police. From what I have been briefed, it went well, there was no incident and those two groups in that area agreed that they were going to continue the peace amongst themselves. So, that for me is good news. Things like these we welcome. At the end of the day, what we want is that the city remains peaceful."
The residents of Taylors Alley told us that they wanted to make it clear that this is by no means the formation of any alliances between the two gangs. We are told that this is simply an attempt to make that part of Belize City a safer place.
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