But the government says the 13th amendment will help them to curb the crime in Belize with the use of SOE's and the establishment of a gang and gun court. And while both Flowers and Bradley said that it would also infringe on the rights of the public, the media asked them what they believe the solution to lowering crime should be.
Kenneth "Big Tom" Flowers, Attending 13th Amendment Consultation
"The solution is to work with the whole communities and to work with all the people in community who want to see their children have better opportunities and a better place to live. So everybody should work together, it takes a village to raise a child. We are not doing that for our children in our country. We all are just blaming this one and blaming that one instead of everybody blame themselves and start sit down and make the right decisions for the people and for the children who have a better future."
"It's only a handful of people making these decisions. Thousands should come out and stand up for their rights and their justice."
Richard "Dickie" Bradley, Attorney
"What is happening right here that a couple of the new slave masters can come and have a discussion, that is what they should have been doing in relation to speaking to the citizens and the community about what we can do to deal with crime in your area. Lake I is soaked in the problems that the police have. This is perhaps the one area which is infested with the most shooters and killers. Why didn't they come and do this to say, tell us how we can deal with this problem? You want more lights, the streets are dull? You want to get rid of all these overcrowded neighborhoods? You want to put cameras everywhere people turn? I was shocked that the minister of police got on TV and said, we have up the cameras but we're not monitoring them. You know how much of the shooters are glad to hear that?"
"You see when they want to do something they find the time to come and talk to people. But the things that they should be talking to the people, they don't find the time for."
And as Minister Fonseca said, the notes taken from the consultation will now be taken to the house committee for further discussion.
