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