And while there were three murders over the weekend, none of them occurred in Belize City. We've seen an increase in murders in rural Belize, particularly in the Belize District. Today the ComPol told us they would have to examine it further, but pointed out that many of these aren't like gang murders - it's friends killing friends - often while drinking.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Yeah, it's it's very disturbing. I must say. We're trying our best to contain the city because we know that the city would normally account for at least 60 to 70% of the country's annual murder murder count. And now we're seeing that the rural areas are hitting us in such a way that we certainly would have to look to see what we can do to address it. But again, you would agree in being a person in the media that these murders we're seeing occurring are not the conventional type that the police would be able to prevent. We're seeing friends killing friends, the case in Biscayne. These are persons who are basically from the same household. They were consuming alcohol in their home and then something went wrong. The one in Corozal again, persons who worked together, went to drink and something happens. And then we saw the one in Santa Cruz over the weekend. Again, these are persons who are hanging out. So it's not the typical one. We're seeing that alcohol is becoming a problem again, where many of the murders being committed now are as a result of the consumption of alcohol. How do we stop that? I don't know, because we cannot tell people they cannot drink at home. We cannot tell people they cannot go to a bar or a nightclub and drink. We cannot do that. So it's a matter of the society in a whole understanding that, you know, while it is good to go out and have fun or go out and drink, that we must compose yourselves in such a way that we don't cause injury to self or others. So it's a societal issue that we must try to find a way to address."
"Yes, I know that the DPP had indeed recommended charges of theft. I think Badillo had gotten into some agreement with the person, the doctor who had made the complaint to settle the matter. I believe by now he has paid off that person in full. I would want to think if that has not been done, then the police will proceed with the charges I've directed."
