So, with the recent spike in violence in the Lake Independence Area - plus the Alrick Smith murder, the government, through the Ministry of Home Affairs, enacted a snap State of Emergency for that part of Belize City. Over 30 Belize City men were picked up in a sweep this weekend, and the plan is for them to be jailed for a month.
So, since the state has decided to suspend their constitutional rights for crime suppression purposes, shouldn't the government have announced it? Here's what Minister Kareem Musa had to say when the press questioned him on it:
Kareem Musa - Minister of Home Affairs
"As you know, last week, there was a shooting of a young man by the name of Tevin Cacho. Thereafter - he did not lose his life, and thereafter, we had two other shootings. We had Mr. Darren Banks, who lost his life, and Mr. Alrick Smith, and I'm not saying that those are related to a gang feud perse, but it does, in fact, arise out of the same community. The community is very tense, very volatile, and on edge at the moment. And as I always say, a state of emergency is not in any way a solution to crime, but it is a pause button to stop the surge because the intelligence that we were gathering after the murder of Mr. Smith is that tensions were very high, and retaliations could be expected. And so, we thought it necessary to impose the state of emergency, a very limited state of emergency. As I have been informed, I think 31 individuals have been picked up. It could have been a very bloody weekend in the Saint Martins area, and we thought that very necessary to cool down the tensions and impose that state of emergency."
Daniel Ortiz
"Sir, was there any announcement on that, though? As far as we're aware, it went into force or was enacted without any public disclosure."
Kareem Musa - Minister of Home Affairs
"Yeah, very swift action had to take place. As I said, we had received very reliable information that certain retaliations would have taken place. And so I believe it was Saturday morning it was imposed. And so, if it were a weekday, I'm sure the media would have had an opportunity to interview us. But, it happened on a Saturday morning following the Friday shooting. And so, that is the reason why - but I believe the commissioner had given an interview over the weekend to mention that there is a State of Emergency."
Reporter
"What is the duration of the state of emergency?"
Kareem Musa - Minister of Home Affairs
"In the first instance, it is 30 days. There is a provision to extend to 60 days, if necessary."
