7 News Belize

Briceno Sees A Tipping Point
posted (October 2, 2017)
As you heard Briceno say, he wants a mandate to go all out after the UDP in advance of the municipal elections.

Briceno notes the swell of student-led protest that came up so easily when Kelvin Usher went missing - and he takes that to mean that things have reached a tipping point against the UDP.

Hon. John Briceno, Leader of the Opposition
"I do believe we are at a tipping point. If something like this that can trigger young people and the entire nation to be able to ready to stand up and say enough is enough, I think we are at a tipping point. It shows you that what have happen since the UDP got into government, they have been turning the police department into almost like a paramilitary force where they - now you have to get a recommendation from a minister to be able to join the police department and that is simply wrong. We are seeing where certain arms of the police, like the GSU - they are totally out of control. I mean they've been given a free reign, a free hand where they go and abuse our young people. I've seen so many videos where they would go in and kick the young men when they are on the ground, they continue stomping them and punching them and hitting them with clubs."

Reporter
"Speaking of the GSU, the Prime Minister said this week that there will be a re-purposing I believe he called it, of the functions and objectives of that unit and of the department generally."

Hon. John Briceno, Leader of the Opposition
"You have to give it to the Prime Minister, he always comes with these fancy pretty words trying to deflect. That's what he's been doing, pretty much playing defence and talk about re-purposing. It's not about re-purposing. It's about disbanding the GSU. The GSU is completely out of control and until we can disband the GSU and start to concentrate more on community policing, we are not going to go ahead. But I want to put it on record that when we get into government we are going to get rid of the GSU. We have no need to have police that terrorizes our people, especially our young men and women in the urban areas like here in Belize City."

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

7 News Belize