And crimes like those - of unthinkable acts of cruelty - are what seemed to have pushed Special Envoy for Families and Children Rossana Briceno over the edge last week when she issued a statement with a scathing indictment of the police.
It was in response to the triple murder-arson in San Felipe, Orange Walk. She urged victims of domestic violence to directly call the Police Minister or the Commissioner of police.
It's odd that she singled him out since the statement spoke to system wide failure sin the courts and the overall support system.
We asked the PM about his wife's statement today:
Jules Vasquez
"Sir,, do you support the statement made by your wife's office, the special envoy, she called out the minister of police and the commissioner. She said, call them!"
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Why are you doing that to me? You want me to pick a fight with my wife?"
"On a serious note. I think you know Rosanna a little bit, some of you. She's a very independent minded person, and she's very passionate about the work that she does."
"And she always reminds me you don't pay me so you can't fire me, so if I see something wrong, I'm going to call it out. And, her concern has always been that in many instances, the police do not respond the way they should, they turn back these, especially these women - and there's enough blame to go AROUND for everyone - and she was not blaming only the police and she even said without calling out Minister Garcia - which I don't think would be fair to call her out - because she just took over the helm of that ministry."
"But saying that the ministry also of, of human development, also have a lot more to do. For instance, we have to ensure, and she has said she has provided a lot of training to police officers to sensitize them about the challenges that these women face during these times. And so, you know, when she said that's what she's going to do, I mean, maybe I shoulda mi call ah, mek you tell ah noh fi do it, soh…"
"But but at the same time, I think it's important also for us to be able to for for the public to understand that we can accept blame and that we have said that we have to find ways how we can do more to, to, to protect these women, especially during these times when, they're being, abused, by their by their partners."
