See the Retrospective [On Demand]
On this night, at this time one year ago - here at 7 news in downtown Belize City, it felt like we were sitting on a tinder box as looters tore up stores on Albert Street and the city night crackled with the electric air of outlaw abandon and civilian panic. And indeed, on that night, it seemed that the whole country was perched on the precipice of something else, the kind of true upheaval not known in Belize's history. We're thankful that never happened, but on that night, something did change in the country's climate of consciousness and tonight we look back to March 20 to find some meaning in all the madness.
Alfonso Noble Reporting,.
At 1:30 in the afternoon of April 20th, 2005, St. John's Junior College students streamed out of classes under the leadership of University of Belize student leader Moses Sulph they filed out taking on to Princess Margaret Drive. The move was...
Moses Sulph,
[To students] "We proceeding to E.P. Yorke and we are going to get the students to join us. That is what we are going to do. Then we are going to proceed to Nazarene from there. There is no water in the school and no light, it is sanitary for students to be there. So to E.P. Yorke first. Lets go."
But they met this: a locked gate and there was nothing more to do here but move on, on to the second objective Nazarene High School. It didn't take much and soon enough the students were out. Objective number 3 was Pallotti High students streamed in but it turned that coming in was easier than getting the girls out.
Teacher,
"It's not that we do not support you but there are ways to get things done and there are rules and regulations."
Failure here saw the students on the return march on Princess Margaret Drive where the mood for the rest of the day was set by Assistant Commissioner of Police Crispin Jeffries Sr. and Assistant Superintendent Chester William.
ACP Crispin Jeffries Sr.,
"You are conducting an illegal
procession."
But by three in the afternoon, the "illegal procession", past the BTL headquarters and to the Prime Minister's house on Princess Margaret Drive.
[Students Chanting Set Belize Free]
But the tolerance for this gathering ended when ACP Jeffries came into the picture once again.
[Students Chanting to Jeffries that they have rights.]
[Jeffries replied with: 'go away peacefully']
After asserting himself at that location the students moved on to the Belcan Bridge. There they blocked it with vehicles but Jeffries was back and confident,
maybe too much so.
Crispin Jeffries Sr.
[To Cameraman] 'Watch how we wah clear this, too easy.'
By then it had turned into a standoff, a sit-in really on the Belcan Bridge complete with union representation and students putting in last minute cramming. By the time evening fell tempers had flared wildly, mostly directed against Jeffries. By nightfall the violence commenced and with the Belcan overtaken by an angry mob with bonfires. At seven, the now famous chant began.
[Chanting: Albert Street]
And that chant turned into action as the mob - now without the students who had started it all, marched towards the commercial center of the city - angry, violent and facing no police resistance. While the police awaited orders from an inert command centre - looters had their way on Albert Street, leading to
a night that would be written in history and broadcast virtually live by 7NEWS.
And while the images are burned into the collective national conscious, only time will tell if the lessons of that dramatic evening have any permanence.
One man was killed on that night, just a block west of Gaylord's Store on King Street. As a result of the looting on Albert Street only one person 42 year old Justo Swazo pleaded guilty to burglary at Gaylord's Store. Four others who were detained along with him got off after the complainant dropped the charges.
