At the top of our newscast, we showed you the additional charges that police brought against the men for the abduction and murder of Ramon Cervantes Sr.
For a crime that has sent that community reeling, it's a start towards a return to normalcy, but the leaders believe that they must go through a healing process after losing a leading light in the community. That's why a candlelight vigil was held in the Town last night for both Cervantes and Sonia Abac.
Our news team stopped in and spoke with a few of the participants about it:
Yvette Torres, Candle Light Vigil Attendant
"Its purpose is to show our unity as a community as we stand firm together whereby we are going through a great loss in our community and its time for us as a community to come out and show that we are united and we must take a stand in what we believe in."
Kevin Bernard, Mayor of Orange Walk Town
"This is something that is always important for our people when we can get Orange Walkenos to come together to unite for one purpose; the purpose that we want peace in our community, we want to reduce crime in our community and the only way that we can do that is when our people come together."
Daniel Ortiz
"People can't stop saying nice things and high praises for Mr. Ramon Cervantes Sr., but did you know him personally?"
Kevin Bernard, Mayor of Orange Walk Town
"I knew Mr. Ramon very much personally. Mr. Ramon was actually last here right at this same central park about 3-4 weeks ago when we had our public meeting as a council. Mr. Ramon also sits as a executive member of the Orange Walk East PUP executive and he have always been out there whenever he is driving his Land Rover and I would be on the street and he would pass, he would stop, he would say Mayor I think you should do this, I think you should do that - he have always been encouraging and I think it saddens me to say that we have lost a good man."
Yvette Torres, Candle Light Vigil Attendant
"He is related to us through my mother, through the Urbina Cervantes family. He was a great person, a great father, a great warrior, a cane farmers, a leader and a very humble person. And also he made a positive contribution to our community."
Daniel Ortiz
"If there is one thing that will stick with you about Mr. Ramon Cervantes' personality which all Belizeans should emulate, what would that be?"
Kevin Bernard, Mayor of Orange Walk Town
"Mr. Cervantes was a straight forward individual. Even though he was a party supporter, he would tell you when you are wrong, he will tell you when are right. What Mr. Cervantes did also as an individual that I will always inspire me is that he was a humble man."
The vigil was organized by the Orange Walk Town Council.
