There's lots of important news to report tonight, including the possibility that we could be in for another national phone shutdown, as BTL employees are demanding that government make a goodwill showing to it for control of the company. Meanwhile, a Florida Court says government has to pay US$50,000 a day for being in contempt. We'll have all the details of that in just a moment, but we begin with the most pressing domestic issue facing us tonight.
The Chinese Association has called for a national shutdown tomorrow. This comes after Chinese Grocer Lou Xiao Yue was killed in her restaurant on Sunday afternoon in Orange Walk Town. To add to that, armed robbers stole close to $10,000 worth of cash and valuables from New World Grocery on Barrack Road in Belize City today. Now, the Chinese Community seems to have had enough of being targeted by criminals and are ready to organize a silent protest. Bt that's not what they're saying, at least not on the record. President of the community, Chon Saan's Lee Mark Chang today told us that tomorrow-Chinese businesses from Corozal to Toledo will be closing down in a day of mourning.
Lee Mark Chang,
"Tomorrow you will see majority of the businesses in the country of Belize will be closing. They will have members from each district going to Orange Walk as representation to the funeral of the Chinese woman."
Jules Vasquez,
Is this a sign of protest? You are describing it as an act of mourning but really, it's an act of protest.
Lee Mark Chang,
"No its not Jules, please. What happened is that the crime rate is up against the Chinese community these past couple months but yet it is also a time of mourning. A holiday would be good for us, we have been working hard all our lives. This is not a protest, this is just a peaceful closedown to mourn the death of the Chinese woman."
Jules Vasquez,
It may be interpreted another way as against the community in so far as the members of the community who prey on Chinese business owners.
Lee Mark Chang,
"Well the Belizean community, we should work together to fight crime on a whole."
Jules Vasquez,
Who are you all angry at? We have the murder of the restaurant owner in Orange Walk on Sunday and then just this afternoon we had an armed robbery of a Chinese business. Who is responsible for this? Who are you all blaming?
Lee Mark Chang,
"We cannot blame anyone. Crime happens all over the world in every country and its just unlucky for you to be in the wrong place at the wrong time but I was assured by the Commissioner that they were doing all they can to try to prevent crimes from happening."
Jules Vasquez,
However it is clear that Chinese businesses, maybe that's because there's a greater number of Chinese businesses, but it is clear that Chinese businesses are targeted for crime with greater regularity than other businesses.
Lee Mark Chang,
"Yes the Chinese businesses have more frequency but what happened is that when you add up the numbers compared to other businesses, Chinese businesses are all over the country, and when you add up the numbers there's probably a 2 to 1. So of course when it comes to crime it'll be probably be to 2 to 1 also so that's why you see a greater frequency. But the community on a whole just wants to relax a day and pay the last respects."
Jules Vasquez,
Without making, or falling into racial stereotypes, I never heard of a Chinese owner who wants to take a day off. Chinese business owners are known for their industry, for working close to home so that they can be open for as many hours as possible. So it hardly sticks if you say that a Chinese business owner wants a day-off, that's hardly believable."
Lee Mark Chang,
"Well we will use it as a day off to mourn of the young lady; it is like a holiday."
The funeral is 10 tomorrow morning in Orange Walk. The last time the Chinese community staged an anti-crime protest was in September of 1997, similarly after the killing of a shopkeeper in that case a teenaged girl.
