Our top story tonight was on this afternoon's broad daylight shooting on Dean Street. As we reported - two men were shot and are critical, but they almost became another statistic. And that statistic is that since January, there have been 69 murders and 32 of them happened right here in Belize City - 10 of them occurred since August 24th. While the police are tackling the problem with increased presence on the streets, the Mothers Organized for Peace are trying another approach - one that has worked before. It is a candlelight vigil. The first one was held July 2nd of last year, a second is planned for Sunday. Here's more.
Keith Swift Reporting,
These are the faces of the men who've been killed in Belize City in the last two years. These are the faces of the men who've been killed in Belize City within the last month.
Erwin X,
"Many of these faces are brothers who you and me used to spin marbles with and play tops with. Many of these faces are youths who would have gone to buy for you at the shop or is your next door neighbor or is a close family friend or is a relative."
But all of them are now dead. Most of them, like Junie Balls, were ruthlessly executed in the streets.
Erwin X,
"We are sick and tired. We are really tired of all the violence. We are tired of all the corruption. We are tired of almost everything that is negative."
In July of 2006, Erwin X and the Mothers Organized for Peace marched through the southside in a candlelight vigil -in memory of the city's fallen sons. On Sunday - Erwin X and the Mothers for Peace will return to the streets.
Erwin X,
"On Sunday at 3:30 pm, we're calling the nation to come forward to support us and this initiative. It is a peace rally, it is a demonstration. It will end with a concert at the City Center where we will be having the candlelight vigil. We will be releasing white balloons, creating an impact. At the City Center, we will have a concert where local artists will be performing, mothers will be speaking, members from Youth for the Future and other organizations will be making presentations and appealing for peace."
The vigil will be led by Therese Felix - the founder of the Mothers Organized for Peace. Her son Tyrone was killed in May of 2006. His killer never made it to court but she is undeterred.
Therese Felix, Mothers Organized for Peace
"If we stop, we will show them that we fear and we aren't fearing any man. We started this together and we are going through with this until we see some kind of encouragement or some kind of help somewhere."
Keith Swift,
Are you in anyway frustrated because I know that earlier this year the guy accused of killing your son was freed and so you never got justice. Are you frustrated?
Therese Felix,
"I am not frustrated Keith. Like I said, the fight goes on and I won't give up. I will continue. I started this and I will go with this until."
And it is with that resolve that Therese Felix and Erwin X will march and rally on Sunday. It is an ambitious undertaking and Erwin and Therese concede they can't do it alone.
Erwin X,
"Do not sit back in isolation and hope like the ostrich who puts his head in the ground that this will go away. This will not go away. In order for us to be very helpful and to be fruitful, we need to get everybody onboard and that is our appeal today, we want all Belizeans, at all levels, do not point fingers, just join us and let us get this thing done. Belize is for we and those brothers need help."
Sunday's peace concert and candle light vigil begins at 3:30 pm at the Battlefield Park on Albert Street. There will be a march from the park through major streets - on both the north and south sides, ending at the City Center where a peace concert will be held. As we mentioned it is an ambitious undertaking and organizers need help. Anyone willing to assist can contact the Mothers Organized for Peace at telephone numbers 207-6418 or 604-6895.
