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Monica Bodden reporting
Once known as Becka Town, the family property located on the canal side on Sibun Street was purchased in 1983 by Miss Becka Samuels - where it became the home for her next generation.

That name would later change to Back-A-Town - an alleged gang territory for one of Belize's crip gangs. Sitting in an area surrounded by two of their rival gangs - Ghost Town and Raiders, Back-A-Town became a gang war zone. For many years, numerous ongoing shootouts targeted the poverty stricken neighborhood -some of which resulted in murders. Take for example 17 year old Shenelle Reyes - the 4thrd form student of Sadie Vernon High - who resided in one of the housing units. Her life was cut short months before her high school graduation when she was shot in the chest by a sawed off shotgun inside her living quarters that had no electricity at the time.

Principal
"I saw her laying in the morgue and she had a wound up to her left chest and blood covered her face."

That is only one off the list of tragic stories that this community has endured while living in a marked gang territory. But a move was made in April of last year, when the family decided to move out and end the ongoing gang violence. Their property was sold for a couple hundreds of thousands of dollars to a security firm - and the once known Back-A-Town crips, packed up and relocated out of the city and to a village in another district where their location is still unknown to many. It was a privilege to be invited to their new community - to see what life is like for them one year after the big move.

Dorla Williams
"Life right now is paradise out of the city; you live well, you are free, you could do what you want, you don't have to look behind your shoulder. I feel good that I came from out of the city, at first I felt a little timid kind of way, but afterwards I find my life put together like this - there is no such place like where I am right now. I love here more than Belize City. I am not in that violence no more. I don't have to worry about tomorrow nor the next day - I am free right now."

Therese
"Lots of freedom, no police, no harassment, no gunshot - not any of that. Everybody is free enjoying themselves, the family lives loving - it's a big difference from we left Belize City."

8 houses - all constructed by the family - sit on this huge plot of land - where their ducks, chicken and dogs roam the area freely. A Fowl coop with hens locked in and a fire hearth was also constructed on the property.

Cultivating vegetables is one of their new hobbies and the school for the children is just a stone's throw away.

Dorla Williams
"We couldn't even have those things in Belize City. We had dogs, but we couldn't have any fowl, no ducks that can run about. The ducks and fowl and everything can run freely. You don't have to worry about your neighbor doing me this and that."

Therese
"I am into this farming and animal life that I am already use to and that makes me more happy and more loving - a very big difference from Belize City."

Monica Bodden
"You couldn't farm in Belize City?"

Therese
"No, it's too much violence and I don't like the behavior in Belize City where I grew up. I will always will love Belize. Even though I live in Orange Walk I would always be in Belize City because that's my namesake, but otherwise I feel good, look good, everything is good with me and my family - we are all happy."

Most of the men were out working -some doing construction jobs nearby - others selling what they make. A typical day for Williams includes baking tarts and coconut crust while her son rides around the village twice a day selling to villagers.

Dorla Williams
"I get up and my son and I tag team together, he said mom, let us do something and I help him and he helps me. I make tarts and crusts and he goes to sell it. By the end of the day we have our money in our pockets that we can eat from because village life is a good life, but you have to have the function too."

And even though they have relocated, those bad memories on Sibun Street still remain with them.

Monica Bodden
"Do you still remember those nightmares?"

Therese
"Yes I do, especially when it comes down to my son, that's the one that takes me."

And there are no regrets when it comes to their new lifestyle changes.

Therese
"I am glad that my family is combining with me and get to love the village life because all of them are not village persons, but through me, we all make it and we all feel good."

Monica Bodden
"Was it a family decision that you guys made together to relocate?"

Therese
"Oh yes it was a family decision. We all came to a decision and decide let's get it over because we were losing our love ones and we were not getting any head way - no satisfaction. We've been here from July and now we are in May - it's very good and the people are very loving. The kids go to school and they love the freedom. They don't even want to go to Belize City because they like the freedom."

Monica Bodden
"I understand they go to church."

Therese
"Yes, every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and up to Sunday we have church that they go and they don't go by themselves, they pick them up and bring them back."

Dorla Williams
"The people out there should take this opportunity and try live up to their standard like how I change my life completely - I am free and I love where I am."

We can't tell you exactly what village in what district they moved to - because that might start everything up again.