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Belize considers State of Emergency to cope with gang violence; 74 murders for 2022

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By Sherrica Thompson

Staff Writer

 

#TurksandCaicos, October 6, 2022 – The increase in violent crime has been a rampant issue plaguing Caribbean nations for years; however,  in recent months, even weeks, we have seen officials from various countries throughout the region speaking out and trying to find ways to tackle this issue.

As Belize, another Caribbean nation struggles with the issue of violent crime, Police Commissioner Chester Williams said he is not ruling out the request of a state of emergency (SOE) to deal with the upsurge in murders in the country as there are persons hell-bent on terrorizing communities.

Commissioner Williams said the police have been directed to take certain actions in different areas to quell feuds, particularly among warring gangs. He noted that he will also be meeting with the relevant minister to discuss “what course of actions will be taken against those groups causing the flare-ups.”

So far, officials have organized several sporting and other initiatives in response to gangs.

When questioned by the media about whether a state of emergency is being considered, the commissioner said “anything is on the table.”

He also noted that drastic measures need to be employed in some areas of the country.

“I can tell you that the crowd from the Antelope Extension; I am sick and tired of them. The truth is they have not felt the wrath of the SOE, and perhaps that is the reason they are behaving the way they are. The past three murders in the city have been committed by them. So, something drastically needs to be done for them to get the message.”

Williams said in the Antelope Extension Area, there are three different groups and “there is extremely high tension among them, and as I have always said, there are some of these young men that certainly don’t want anything good in life.

“We do a number of programs to try and work with them. We talk with them and do interventions with them. We do everything possible to try and get them to understand that the lifestyle they are living is not good for them, is not good for society.”

Between January and August, the country recorded approximately 74 murders since the start of the year.

Belize has a population of just under 400,000 people.

Caribbean News

SAINT LUCIA CRUISE PORT POISED FOR A RECORD-BREAKING CRUISE SEASON

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Castries, Saint Lucia – The Saint Lucia Cruise Port team celebrated the kickoff of the highly anticipated 2024/2025 cruise season alongside key tourism partners at a vibrant cultural event held at Port Castries on Thursday, October 10, 2024. In a traditional ceremony hosted by the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, the season was officially launched with the arrival of the Celebrity Summit and Rhapsody of the Seas, bringing 4,485 passengers and 1,756 crew members to the island. Saint Lucia Cruise Port partnered with the Tourism Authority to provide lively steel pan entertainment for guests as they disembarked to create a festive welcome.

Hon. Dr. Ernest Hilaire, Minister for Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture, and Information shared optimistic projections for this season’s cruise arrivals. In 2023, the port welcomed 614,980 passengers aboard 264 calls. In 2024, Saint Lucia Cruise Port expects to receive approximately 823,132 passengers aboard 459 calls. This number would surpass the current passenger record of 789,176 cruise visitors (aboard 443 calls), set in 2019.

Lancelot Arnold, General Manager of Saint Lucia Cruise Port, expressed his enthusiasm during his remarks at the ceremony held at the Pointe Seraphine berth. “We are thrilled to welcome Captain Evangelos Saitis of the Celebrity Summit and Captain Per Olov Mathias Sebom of the Rhapsody of the Seas back to Saint Lucia. The start of this cruise season presents us with a wonderful opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to enhancing the guest experience, supporting our cruise line partners, and collaborating with local industry stakeholders to ensure our mutual success. We are looking forward to a busy and exciting cruise season with a positive outlook for our company and community.”

Representatives from Invest Saint Lucia, Export Saint Lucia, the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority, and Foster & Ince/Platinum Port Agency also participated in the event.

Captain Saitis expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome, sharing his fondness for Port Castries and his anticipation of a successful season.

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Community Meetings Provide Feedback for Trust Fund’s School and Library Reconstruction Projects 

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Philipsburg, Sint Maarten   – The National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) has concluded the latest round of community consultations for the Fostering Resilient Learning Project (FRLP). These events, held in early October, were designed to inform and engage residents about the project, which focuses on reconstructing safe educational and cultural spaces as part of Sint Maarten’s ongoing recovery efforts post-Hurricane Irma. This phase of the FRLP includes rebuilding Sister Marie Laurence and Charles Leopold Bell schools, as well as reconstructing the St. Maarten Library.

With the demolition of the three buildings approaching, the consultations provided a platform for neighborhood residents, educators, and community representatives to ask questions, share any concerns and provide input on different aspects of the project. Attendees discussed how the project might affect their communities and offered suggestions for improvements.

At the Sister Marie Laurence premises in Middle Region, the project team reassured neighborhood residents concerned with demolition and noise that these issues would be addressed in the Contractor-Environmental and Social Management Plan (C-ESMP), a plan designed to mitigate and reduce any negative effects on both the community and the environment during construction. This plan will include measures to maintain road access and traffic flow, whilst also minimizing disruptions such as noise and dust pollution.  The project team explained that the C-ESMP would be finalized once the demolition contract is signed, and a start date of the demolition work is confirmed.

At the St. Maarten Library session held at the John Larmonie Center, the consultation was highly interactive, with participants asking questions about future programs and the design of the new library spaces. The design firm, KS&P was present, and the FRLP project team explained that once concept drawings are ready, another meeting would be scheduled for community feedback. Residents also expressed concerns about asbestos in the old building. The project manager clarified that an external company conducted assessments, and no asbestos was found.

During the consultation for Charles Leopold Bell School held at Carl’s Unique Inn, there were concerns about the safety of the school’s sports court, currently located near a busy road. The community suggested that the court be relocated to the rear of the school for improved safety. The project team explained that further discussion with MECYS would be needed, as the current mandate for the sports field focuses on repairs, rather than new construction. Additionally, some attendees were confused about a previous asbestos report. The project team assured everyone that all necessary environmental assessments had been conducted, and confirmed there was no asbestos at the three project sites.

Ursel Biabiany, the Stakeholder Engagement Coordinator of the NRPB explained to the community that the NRPB remains dedicated to addressing concerns raised during these consultations and keeping the public informed. “We take the community’s feedback seriously and work closely with all project stakeholders to ensure that the demolition and rebuilding process prioritizes public safety and community concerns.”

“We have made considerable efforts to engage the public, including distributing flyers door-to-door and answering questions directly. This open dialogue has led to productive feedback from the local community, which will help shape our plans moving forward.”

Demolition of each building is expected to last two months, with work set to begin in early 2025. The design phase for the Library and Charles Leopold Bell School will take about seven months, wrapping up by the second quarter of 2025. Following the design phase, contractors will be selected according to World Bank procurement guidelines, and construction is anticipated to start in the first quarter of 2026, lasting up to a year.

To address the concerns of the community, the project team will closely monitor vibrations from demolition activities. Before the work starts, assessments of nearby homes and businesses will be conducted to document their current condition. This will allow the project team to identify potential damage that could be caused during demolition, reassuring residents that their properties are protected.

Claret Connor, NRPB Director, assures the community that the organization is committed to reconstructing educational and cultural facilities that meet modern standards. “These consultations have been invaluable in allowing us to engage with residents directly and take their feedback into account as we work towards delivering safer, stronger, and more sustainable public facilities that will stand the test of time.”

Further consultations are planned, including private meetings for residents with specific concerns. NRPB invites continued feedback from the community via email frlp@nrpbsxm.org and encourages residents to stay informed through regular project updates on www.nrpbsxm.org/frlp.

Any complaints or grievances can be sent to https://nrpbsxm.org/complaints-procedure/

The Fostering Resilient Learning Project is implemented by the National Recovery Program Bureau on behalf of The Government of Sint Maarten under the Trust Fund, which is financed by the Government of the Netherlands and managed by the World Bank.

 

Photo Caption: Presentation of St. Maarten Library at John Larmonie Center, Philipsburg – Top Right: Community members and stakeholders at NRPB consultation, John Larmonie Centre, Philipsburg – Bottom right: Stakeholders, including Member of Parliament Melissa Gumbs and MECYS Minister Lyndon Lewis, at NRPB consultation, John Larmonie Center, Philipsburg

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Government is “able to function” says Cayman Premier after Three Quit Cabinet

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Garfield Ekon

Staff Writer

 

Turks and Caicos, November 6, 2024 – The Government of the Cayman Islands, is in limbo, following the resignations of  three Cabinet Ministers, and one Parliamentary Secretary, but, the Premier, Hon. Juliana O’Connor-Connolly said the Cabinet remains “constitutionally quorate and therefore fully able to function.”

In a media statement, the Premier said the Cabinet had its weekly meeting on Friday, to discuss business agenda, and to fulfill “our constitutional duty”, with a majority of five sitting Ministers.

“The sacred duty of elected office remains top of mind for myself and my colleagues, despite the uncertainty of the present circumstances. Our earnest and primary desire is to maintain stability within our Government, for the benefit of the people we service, and  to maintain the confidence of you, the public, and those who conduct business with us,” the Premier declared.

On Thursday, the Ministers who left the Cabinet were: Deputy Premier, Andre Ebanks, Katrine Ebanks-Wilks, Sabrina Turner, and Parliamentary Secretary, Heather Bodden.  Their resignations have left the United People’s Movement (UPM) without a majority, it now has seven members, three short of a Parliamentary majority.

In a press release, the former Deputy Premier, described their leaving the Cabinet, as “untenable,” as in recent months, “in particular, the level of dysfunction and disorganisation, and a lack of professionalism, place the country at risk of erroneous decision making and reputational damage, which could have long term adverse consequences,” he said.

Adding that there was lack of parity between Ministers who are not afforded the same level of “transparency and involvement” to make informed decisions in the “best interest” of the people, he declared that it is leading to the “erosion of due process.

“Unchecked disrespect, particularly towards women in caucus,” the former Premier outlined, noting that many meetings failed to “foster objective analysis, or to provide a forum for respectful exchange of different views,” Mr. Ebanks stated.

The Islands’ Parliament has 19 members, and the Government needs at least 10 to have a majority. The coalition administration is now unable to past any legislation, due its minority status.

Governor, Hon. Jane Owen, said she is in “discussions” with the Premier, and assured that “our public service continues to discharge their duties to ensure continuity of service to the public,” the Governor said, while the Progressive Labour Party (PLP) said the Government is on the brink of “collapse,” and cautioned against any “chaotic coalition” being put in place.

This all unravels as the Cayman Islands are under Hurricane Warning; impact with Tropical Strom Raphael is expected tonight.

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