British journalist Ross Kemp called Belize City one of the world’s deadliest cities in his explosive documentary on gangs in Belize. Well tonight, a few Belizeans who are close to the scene are pointing their fingers back at kemp and calling him a fraud. Jason Brown who was featured prominently as a gang leader in the documentary produced for British television – says he was misquoted and tricked. He told us why he feels exploited.
Keith Swift Reporting,
The documentary shows Jason Brown welcoming Ross Kemp into his home and introducing him to his family. Brown says he is a reformed gangster but in the documentary - he’s featured as a gang leader
Jason Brown, Fears for his Life
“I don’t have a police record, I am not a bad person as they would put it. I am just one of the guys who are trying to help the situation. I was trying to explain to these people that here is this guy who had been through a lot and now wants to do better with his life and I was explaining that on a basis to let other people see. They put it like I am this big bad guy, the leader of a gang. How can you say I am the leader of a gang, do you the responsibility you just put me under.”
And that’s why today Brown did something he’s never done – an on camera interview to set the record straight.
Jason Brown,
“That documentary first of all started out that I was this guy who is now changing his life, giving up the bad stuff and they didn’t portray that in the documentary any at all. They portrayed me as the leader of this gang. I don’t know where they got it.”
Keith Swift,
So you never led a gang?
Jason Brown,
“I am not a gang leader you could say. For me I was in the streets. When you’re in the streets you got to do what you got to do.”
Keith Swift,
Were you in a gang?
Jason Brown,
“I am not in a gang and I was not in a gang at all. I was affiliated with some of my, you could call it friends because when you’re in a gang there is a leader and there is someone at the top. I never had someone at the top lead me before. It is totally false. Some of the things that I was trying to portray to them, they didn’t let the people see. They portrayed me
as this bad guy and that is not the deal we made. Like I said I wasn’t being paid. Probably if I had been paid I wouldn’t have been this angry but I was doing them a favour out of good will so that is what also made me angry.”
Keith Swift,
So you did not get paid?
Jason Brown,
“I did not get paid. The money that they gave us, you call that snipings. I didn’t call that pay because the guys that I had in the video I gave them that little money, that is like no kind of money, $500 – nothing. I am not afraid to say it.”
But still Jason Brown stands behind what he said.
Jason Brown,
“What I was talking and telling them is reality and that is just how life is. I am not saying we were telling lies or you understand. We’ve been through it. Many people haven’t been through it and I am one of the guys who’ve been there and I’m running away from it, I am not afraid to say that and that is the point I wanted to be portrayed to the people who were watching the video, that this is not the way.
I have no regrets for what I did, I had to survive. For me the key thing is survival, if I don’t survive what will happen? Nothing else can’t be happening. So I did what I had to do to survive, I didn’t expect these guys to come and portray me as this bad gangsta guy. I am not a bad guy, I defend my life and right now if I have to defend my right I will do it still. Always survival is the key thing for me, nothing comes over survival and everything comes after.
I’m not that guy who loves publicity. Just to be here right now I would never do this but this is something that I have to do. I don’t like the publicity, I don’t like the scene but I have to defend my name too.”
Keith Swift,
So you would have had no problem if the documentary had not aired in Belize?
Jason Brown,
“I would not have been as this mad but I still would have been very angry because to portray as the leader of a gang and the image that they gave me, other people have feelings out there and Americans know people in Belize so the news would have gotten back still that I am a bad person and I am the leader of this gang and this bothers me a lot.”
The documentary also bothers Dianne Finnegan from Youth for the Future
Diane Finnegan, Director - Youth for the Future
“I would have never ever believed that such a documentary would have come out with so much negativity. This wasn’t what was discussed. This wasn’t what Jason’s role was supposed to be in this documentary.”
Though it is probably futile, Dianne Finnegan says she will be contacting the producers of the show to make a correction. Again to clarify, Jason Brown says they were paid but the money received was nominal and he had to share it amongst all those who were interviewed.
