And speaking on another matter of public interest, Senator Sheena Pitta discussed the systemic failures that led to the arson-murder of Angelita Magaña and her children Shadia Magana and Tishan Godoy.
The three of them were buried together today in Orange Walk - at a funeral where the community and classmates came out in numbers and the air was thick with grief.
It's probably the most horrific domestic murder ever witnessed in Belize but, Senator Sheena asked, beyond well meaning words of anger and outrage - what's being done to protect the next victim?:
Sheena Pitts, UDP Senator
"But from all the talkings we've heard from the special envoy, from the Minister, Kevin Bernard, have you heard any of them say what they can do and what can be done to address the problem?"
"We've heard the multisectoral approach in relation to crime. When will we see a true multisectoral approach to gender based violence and not the response to it? Because the response to it is an indication that we've been doing nothing to address what causes it."
"We are doing nothing in an interwoven way to address gender based violence from the beginning. We're only responding. And our response so far is to decry it. Our response so far is to remember our names. Our response so far is to say, at least the bloody man dead. Are those responses meant to address gender based violence?"
"We need to mainstream gender sensitivity training. Being able to identify early abuse and the signs of abuse. Abuse is not only when they hit you, you know? Abuse is also when they tell you: "you see you, you already have two children for me no next man will want you after me."
"As a practitioner, I have had to go to the courts for restraining orders. And unfortunately, I will tell you when it has to do with out district. Only certain days the magistrate work weh could deal with that matter. And when you're dealing with a victim who is traumatized, seeking professional help, to be able to go in that court to ask for the very restraining order, we get a jurist who does not understand the policy behind taking a no tolerance to gender based violence."
"Now, can you think of the average woman who is already oppressed by the shame of abuse, oppressed by the financial circumstances she finds herself, oppressed by fear and trauma, having to go to magistrate court, High court, Court of Appeal, and at no turn seeking satisfaction."
"We need specialized Gender-Based Violence courts."
"Not just a particular day when the judge does family matters. It should be as a matter of priority whenever it arises. Our legislation that says when you go for a restraining order, it's given only for a particular number of days. In the first instance. Angelita got one. Did she have one protecting her at the date of her death? How is it we would have a legislation that says you can get one order, but only for 21, 28 days? Really? But really, how is it that when you go to the police department to tell the police department the man has a gun! And anytime he talks to me strong he takes it out for me to see it. I am in fear of my life and the police tells you, gial, noh worry about that, the man noh use it.
No crime committed. Like brandishing a gun in your face. And make you understand: me got the power versus you."
"Where is the follow up and follow through? That is what failed Angelita. Because she did what the law says she must do. But where was the follow up and follow through? And civil society and faith based organizations, not get off the hook, you know? Because me sitting down in a corner and praying for my man noh lik me noh when help me, you know? Get up and get active."
"Because it cannot be that much like how the government is asking us to forget who teef Budna, you will sit down and actively participate in forgetting that Angelita was a victim."
