And while there were stevedores on the city streets, missionaries led the charge and schoolchildren followed in San Pedro. Yes, they may have lacked the fire and muscle of the stevedores, but the cause was worthy; it was a march against domestic abuse. A big issue, but few in the public came out, and as Jacqueline Godwin found out that may be because despite the broad topic, the march was triggered by one incident.
Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
There were far more primary school children of Holy Cross Anglican School present than the anticipated crowd of supporters for the justice for all community wide march.
Vernon Wilson, Coordinator - Justice for all protest
“There were a number of other schools that said that they were going to participate but why they did not show up, I do not know but it is very interesting that they refused to show up this morning with the enormous police support around here to protect the demonstration, to make sure it was a peaceful demonstration. The Fire Department even refused to participate in the parade because it was involving the Police Department and they were afraid that people would not take
the fire engine seriously if they saw them only in parades.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
So would it be fair for me to say that you are disappointed about the turnout?
Vernon Wilson,
“I am disappointed in the number of people that did not show up personally but I can also understand fear and intimidation.”
The primary school local managers and volunteer coordinators Vernon and Francis Wilson coordinated the peaceful protest by getting their students, some teachers, parents and a few concerned citizens to speak out against the abuse of women and children and to improve the way the San Pedro police respond to such cases.
Vernon Wilson,
“There are a lot of things that need to be changed out here to protect the people against violence, domestic violence and mental and physical abuse.”
And while the call to end all forms of abuse is very much a real concern in Belize, many believe today’s action was personally motivated, orchestrated by U.S. missionaries Vernon and Francis Wilson and maybe that is why the rally was poorly attended. In fact when asked Vernon Wilson told us that he too probably may not have been present if it was not for what he claims happened to them and one of their teachers after the couple came to the young woman’s aid when she reported that she was being abused by her ex common law husband, Police Constable Mark Martinez.
Jacqueline Godwin,
Do you believe Mr. Wilson if this did not happen to you personally as well as to one of your teachers, you would be out here today?
Vernon Wilson,
“If it hadn’t happen to me personally and hadn’t happen to one of my teachers I doubt I would have been out here but because it did, and I would have supported it but more in prayer than what I would have been making a public appearance. I have heard people say the Police Department were not giving not giving them support and things of this nature and I really kind of dismissed it as hearsay until it happened to me and then I realized this is not hearsay, this is what is really going on a daily basis here and it needs to be changed.”
ASP Dennis Arnold, OIC - Caye Caulker/San Pedro Detachments
“We take these cases very very serious. I would not tolerate it any
which way from any members of the public, much less police officers. Police offices no better.”
According to the officer in charge of San Pedro and Caye Caulker detachments Assistant Superintendent of Police Dennis Arnold, he has a zero tolerance towards domestic abuse and so on May eighteenth following a complaint made by the school teacher and subsequent alleged actions taken by Francis and Vernon Wilson including PC Mark Martinez they have all been charged.
ASP Dennis Arnold,
“PC Martinez was charged for wounding of Mr. Wilson and harm to Miss Sabal. Mr. Wilson was charged with damage to property because he grabbed PC Martinez, tore his shirt, and burst his gold chain. Mrs. Wilson was charged for wounding because apparently among the struggle and the suffering, she had scraped or scratched Mr. Martinez and some other wounds Mr. Martinez received, I don’t know how. The matter is still under investigation and it is before the court.”
PC Mark Martinez has been placed on interdiction pending the outcome of the investigation. At today’s rally there were mixed emotions as one victim explained domestic violence affects the children like what happened to her son.
Shirley Martinez, Victim - Domestic Abuse
“This thing took about five years and right now my son wants to kill his father because of everything he did to me once. I mean my son remembers everything he did to me when he lashed me with electric wire, when he put the knife to my throat and had my throat slit a little bit right across here.”
And while such cases are very real one woman questions whether the public rally on a personal case was the right thing to do.
Celsa Benguche, Concerned Resident
“It is good that you can have these things so that men don’t do it but they didn’t sit down and try to figure out what is the real reason, how did these people can handle their business. Counsel them, that is what they need because it is not the first time this was. It is not the first time. Mother’s Day just passed here and she wants the world and her teachers and he students believe. I am not against the cause, it is just how far they are taking it because if they didn’t get into it, they would be together again right now. The day after, that same day they already made up what they fought over the Sunday night. They had already made it up. So it is not the cause, it is how far these people are taking this problem. We are women but all of us have our difficulties and all of us have our problems with out gentleman, with our husband, but I think these people are taking it too far.”
Like inviting primary school children to be part of a public protest based solely on a private case between their local managers, a teacher and the police. One good action however that resulted from today’s event was the plan to construct the first of its kind shelter for all cases of domestic abuse on San Pedro Ambergris Caye.
Vernon Wilson,
“We are going to try to pull together to build a safe house for women and children and I will be going to government to see about acquiring land for that particular building. We will be doing fund raising, I already have a gentleman in the states who says he will be doing a matching grant to help build it. So we have funding that’s coming online to make this a reality for the community of San Pedro and to give protection to women and children who are in an abusive situations.”
Jacqueline Godwin reporting for 7News.
