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Jules Vasquez has the story:..

Jules Vasquez reporting
This morning at 8:00 UB Students gathered at the main campus in Belmopan to remember their dead, Norval Belisle and Suzenne Martinez.

The spirit was strong and there was prayerful reflection and a symbol of justice from Norval Belisle's mother.

Norval Belisle's mom
"I light this torch for justice and peace because in this country we have none."

She carried that torch in a procession through the streets of Belmopan followed by dozens of students and supporters chanting for justice.

Crowd Chanting; We want justice now!

The students got on busses headed for Cayo and the torch started out on a run bound for the Solidarity Rally in San Ignacio about 25 miles away. Norval Belisle's sister and neighbors started the run but out on the road, the long distance specialists took over a majestic image as they ran in cadence for a cause.

Waiting for them in Cayo was a large crowd - spread out across the downtown area around Columbus Park.

They had all kinds of signs - handmade, home-made genuine expressions of frustration with a violence epidemic that has spared no one.

Suzenne Martinez's mother was the most recent and everywhere we could see the remembrances of her daughter who they called purple; Purple ribbons, pictures, purple wreaths on the doors of closed businesses; Indeed a whole movement.

But there is no shortage of victims - so many of them - so many innocent that there could be enough candles enough to cover every square inch of this downtown area and here too the crowd was spirited and singing to life the spirits.

Indeed it was impressive - an energized, engaged populace - students full of passionate conviction - even with an 11 point resolution signed by three colleges but to what end?

Hope Amadi - President UB Student Body
"If you look at what is happening all over the world - the people that are taking a stand against any kind of situation are mostly the university students. We come to understand that this is the right time for us the university students to take stand and say enough is enough for all the nonsense that is going on in Belize."

"We came up with a declaration - we partnered with Galen University and Sacred Heart College to send a declaration to the government of the things we think should be address."

Jules Vasquez
"Do you think it is achieving anything?"

Juliana Guerra
"Yes we are because our voices have as much power as this little finger on Election Day."

Jules Vasquez
"There is a very palpable and a very strong anti-government sentiment out here. People want answers from the government and they feel they aren't getting any. They walked out on the Attorney General, your colleague last night. What do you feel about that anti-government sentiment?"

Hon. Elvin Penner, Area Representative
"I will disagree when it comes to anti-government sentiment because everybody I've spoken to except perhaps a few people who are perhaps using this as a political agenda. Most of them has nothing to do with politics, certainly they are not satisfied that the government is doing enough."

Juliana Guerra
"This is not a political thing you know Jules. Please this is not a political thing; we are asking our leaders to please listen to our voices. They can if they want, believe me, they can."

Jules Vasquez
"Did you attend the meeting last night with the Attorney General?"

Juliana Guerra
"Yes I did."

Jules Vasquez
"Were you satisfied with what he said?"

Juliana Guerra
"No sir, no."

Jules Vasquez
"Why not?"

Juliana Guerra
"Because at the beginning they started like this was a story then they took us for fools, then they told us that the Prime Minister said they we can do what we want, we are on our own."

Jules Vasquez
"That's the message you took from that event; you all are on your own?"

Juliana Guerra
"They say that we are on our own. He says that the Prime Minister is not against demonstration, we can do what we want meaning we are on our own."

But no one felt alone or powerless, when the students ran across the Hawkesworth bridge at 12:30 - still carrying the torch four hours after they started - the energy and determination of these youth to make a difference did make it seems that change - is possible:

Hope Amadi - President UB Student Body
"Everybody today in Belize that is watching this news could tell that is one of its kind. This is to tell you that the people are tired of what is going on. The residents are getting tired. We started from Belmopan, do you know what it means to run all the way from Belmopan to Cayo just in one voice, in one unity, everybody is coming together. I think it is high time for the government to understand that this is the right time for us to change some policies in order to safeguard our future of the youths of this country."

Jules Vasquez
"So what's next?"

Hope Amadi - President UB Student Body
"When you have awakened you look out for some damages to be done. UB students are awakened; Galen University students say that enough is enough; Sacred Heart students say that enough is enough. This is not time where we are waiting for the labour department to say something. This is not the time we are waiting for the business people to say something. This is the time that the youths have realize that we have to take over - that we have to do something if we want the future of our country to be in safe hands."

Fortunately the giant didn't awake today - but he did stir which the officer commanding San Ignacio said serves a useful social purpose:

Jules Vasquez
"Is it an important event to sort of release the pressure that naturally builds up in any society where there is crime?"

Supt Ralph Moody - O/C San Ignacio
"Yes Jules they need to release themselves. They need to say how they feel and I believe that this way peacefully is very good for the community."

And it is a community that - has had enough - but truly their feeling of being fed up probably has little effect on criminals - and that's where the police come in.

And San Ignacio Police will be getting that help. Before 5:00 this evening, they received a new police truck from the Ministry of National Security.

As for the protest - it went up until about 3:00 pm - and at the peak - our estimate is that around 500 persons were out there. The shutdown lasted until shortly after that when, at around 4:00, businesses started opening up.

A statement issued from the Prime Minister's Office this evening congratulates and thanks those who participated in the San Ignacio/Santa Elena peaceful protest against crime.