Yesterday we spoke to UNICEF representatives in Belize who gave us their official position on the Kid's Curfew matter. And of course as it has been widely
reported they are against the initiative for the way it violates the convention on the rights of children. One of the arguments they used to cement their
position is that a child curfew is often only reserved for situations where there is civil unrest or an impending disaster. So where is the crisis? That's
what UNICEF wondered and that's what we asked ACP Williams. Here is how he responded.
ACP Chester Williams - OC, Eastern Division South
"I would beg to refute the statement made by UNICEF for the simple reason that we cannot confuse a child curfew to a general curfew. In time of crisis
is where you normally see a general curfew where in situations where the Governor General upon the request of the Prime Minister would order a state of
emergency due to some crisis or some major disaster like hurricane, etc. By virtue of the constitution the Governor General does have the authority to
declare a state of emergency where person's rights are to some extent reduced and curfew are normally introduced. This is not that type of curfew. As
you would see this is curfew that is only geared at targeting children up to certain age. We are not telling every Belizean you can't be on the streets
after 9 PM, this is only children and you and I would know that a child though a child do have rights; a child do have a right to his liberty, a right
to association and these sort of things. But the simple fact that person is still a child then the right is fettered to a certain extent and that is
where parents are supposed to become more responsible because it is not healthy, it is not in the child's best interest to have a child wondering on
the streets of Belize City late at night."
"We have seen what our committee has become, do we want to see the situation where it continue, do we want to put a stop to it and this is why
sometimes I question the motive of those person who are objecting to what we are trying to do. Do they really have the best interest of our children at
heart?"
To further state their case, UNICEF sent us a OP/ED piece saying, quote, "Researchers and child protection analysts have studied curfew cases in cities
around the world and find that: 1, It doesn't reduce crime; 2, it punishes wrong people; 3, It has undesirable consequences, specifically, on the poor
and vulnerable."
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