7 News Belize

House Debates Crime/GSU
posted (September 5, 2014)
But the debate about crime in general and the GSU specifically was not limited to those comments from the Prime Minister - it was also discussed on the House floor. That's where the representative from Toledo West, Oscar Requena discussed the recent heinous murder of Agripina Coc in his constituency. But when he moved from there to Belize City, that's when he entered the crosshairs of the police Minister John Saldivar. Here's how their exchange went:..

Hon. Oscar Requena, Toledo West
"What is unprecedented though about it is the number of women and girls that are being targeted. We have seen many examples Mr. Speaker of innocent hard working Belizean women and young girls who are being murdered and slaughtered across this country by criminals who are running across this nation. When a man cannot provide for himself and his family, it is an attack on his manhood. When a woman cannot provide for her family, it is also an attack on her self-esteem and integrity and these are the issues that this government has to address Mr. Speaker. Just 3 days ago Mr. Speaker we witness on national television the incidents happening in the streets of Belize City in which a young man was beaten and it is allege that he was beaten so bad that he even soiled himself Mr. Speaker. These are the kind of actions that causes the community and Belizeans across this country to lose confidence in this particular arm of the police department. Mr. Speaker, I want to go further, when you look at the comments that were made by the head of the GSU. As a public servant it begs the question the level of his impartiality and his ability to serve all Belizeans without fear or favor."

Hon. John Saldivar, Belmopan
"To come here at this house and try to say that poverty justifies violence, justifies crime. How desperate can these people be to want to get the criminals on their side by having the criminals believe that there is some justification to their action because they are poor, its appalling I must say Mr. Member for Toledo West. You have joined your leader in that call, but at the end of the day I am happy to note from the responses that I have been seeing from right thinking people in this country - they don't buy that and you are not going to get into government by attacking the security forces of this country."

Home | Archives | Downloads/Podcasts | Advertise | Contact Us

7 News Belize