And following that latest gang-related murder in Belize City, the ComPol teamed up with Nuri Muhammad and Abdul Nunez, the director of behavior modification and conflict mediation center, for another mediation with the rival gangs. A similar session occurred only five months ago - during which they had agreed on a six month truce.
Well, that truce broke down and the country has seen 19 murders in 19 days - starting with the death of Gerald Tillett on May 6th. And while these are not all gang related, at least 8 - along with other non-fatal shootings - were due to the spike in gang activity.
This led to Monday's Mediation, during which the gang members discussed several points, such as poverty and lack of opportunities being the main reason for turning to crime.
They also spoke about the roles mothers, wives and girlfriends play in supporting gang activity and younger members who refuse to abide by any peace agreement.
And while the session worked to air out some of the issues leading to the rise in violence, the ComPol said that was the last time they would get around the mediation table - after this, more drastic measures will be taken.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Myself, brother Nuri and Abdul Nunez who is the now the director of behavior modification and conflict mediation center in Belize City - did have a mediation with the rivaling groups in Belize City, with a view to see how we can ascertain their issues to try to find common ground in the resolution of those issues. I must say that the mediation session went well. Since then, we have seen a significant decrease in gun violence in Belize City. It cannot be that when these things occur, we talk and then things done. I still do believe that something more drastic needs to be done for these gang members to understand, your behavior has become intolerable and as such drastic actions must be taken against you. We will see how that plays out and we will monitor the situation and see how this goes. And I have said to them in the mediation session that this is the last talk. If it continues, we are not going to sit down and talk anymore, something else will be done."
Reporter
"Sir, but we've had countless mediations sessions just like this, why are you still doing these mediation sessions when you have been a part of so many short lived truces?"
Chester Williams
"The truth is sometimes it's good to sit down and get what people are going through. But I do agree it must not always be that. It is something that we must look at and find other ways to address. The issue of fighting crime and some of the underlining issues that causes crime are not for the police to address, it must require the support and assistance of other agencies if it is that we truly want to address the issue from a root cause standpoint. But the truth be told there are many of these young men who no matter what you do, that is their way of life and they are always going to continue that way of life and so those are the hardcore people that we must deal with them stiff and yes the ones who are just coming behind and are trying to be, then we can see how we have some sort of programs to divert them from that lifestyle. So its a multi-faceted approach that we must have, but to get the true success that we want we need to pluck out the hardcore from among the others so that we can move forward from there."
The ComPol said in a previous interview that a State of Emergency would be the police's last resort.
