7 News Belize

Activists Vex About Verde
posted (January 10, 2014)
One week ago, we first told you about Reynaldo Verde - the senior sales tax collector who escaped a firearm possession charge - when police determined that an unlicensed Glock 380 pistol which was found in his house had been planted there. But, the case isn't closed. This evening the DPP told us that she has requested additional information from precinct two which made the arrest and the decision to release him without charges.

And while the DPP is waiting, the grassroots activist community is not. Today, Russell Roberts - who brought the issue to the fore on Monday - held a press conference at the Radisson to say the laws have to be evenly applied. This time, he was joined by other social actors:...

Russell Robert
"We would like to make mentioned of some of the incidents that take place that we need to address whereby innocents have been taken to jail for one bullet - a whole entire family ripped apart and we need to address these issues. One case in particular took my attention was the case with Mr. Verde. That's the one that brought me out because watching the news for all these years, I see him in and out of the news; two attempted murder charge and now an illegal firearm charge. He is able to use the system to his benefit. All Belizeans don't have this privilege. We don't have connections in higher places and we are left and dashed aside."

Delroy Herrera, Activist
"If the law is there, then let us execute the law to the full extent of the law. Don't give certain people privilege and give the rest ____, I don't want to say the word because if they will charge Tom, then Harry could get charge to the same way. If you have to spend the 90 days, then he has to."

"Where is it that you big ranking police officer, all of a sudden you have some kind of heart to that you think that they actually plant bullet because you see 6 - 7 footprints at this house. Where were you when someone bought a house with two rusted bullet in there? You set a precedent now. So we can use that against you now. Whenever you get locked up, the same thing that is good for the goose is good for the gander. How much more people lives need to get ruin before we actually see what is going on, come on Mr. Prime Minister, for God sakes wake up."

Russell Robert
"We need the government to recognize the cry of the poor and look at this law. Either apply it across the board or revised it so that innocent could stay free. I will be asking Belizeans to go to their area representative, lodge their complaint, I means some of the victims and people who could possibly be victims - could go to their area representative, ask the assistant, make a petition and put it forward to the House either in the Opposition and also in the ruling government areas so that we could take it further to the government to see what we could do about because it's not working for us. We need to do something about it before it be too late."

Roberts said he will continue awareness activities next week.

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