Crime

Watch This Blow Over Too by Fayemarie A Carter

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pointing-fingers

Da you! Da you!

A lot has been said, fingers have been pointed but does any of it make a difference? Will anything change? No. Why? Because we aren’t really interested in a solution. Many feel that what is happening in the South Side is irrelevant to their lives. The district people get on the bus and go home as soon as they are finished with whatever business dragged them into the city. The city folks jump into their air conditioned cars and drive to their burglar barred homes and wait for the chaos to blow over. An overriding sentiment seems to be ” I wish they would just hurry up and kill each other out.” Horrified yet? Maybe. Maybe not.

The self righteous religious people pray to God and assure themselves that the only reason these gang bangers are dying is because they need Jesus. They just need to pray and everything will be all safe and good again. The government treats them like a nuisance that needs to be put down by any means necessary, even murder. Screw trials and due process. What would be the point? We have a whopping 2% conviction rate. Let’s just open fire into a crowd of unarmed bystanders and see what happens. The Opposition is whining that they aren’t invited to the Press Conferences, which is PUBLIC by the way, so they sit on their hands and say “Da nuh we!” The GOB says “Stop the rumor mills!” and blames Facebook. That one is hysterical. Instead of blaming rumor mills and Facebook, embrace it. Use the social media to spread awareness and garner support for your efforts. Oh wait. Do you actually have any????? As far as anyone can tell, everything is hush hush thereby CREATING the speculation. And as for the media…well. What media? You call that journalism? Trampling all over the crime scene is just irresponsible and disrespectful to the process of justice…unless we aren’t planning on seeking any justice?????

The GOB’s response was inadequate in addressing the fear of the people. Nothing is ok about shots ringing out and children being frightened to go school. Instead of mocking the people’s concerns, how about some compassion? What are we waiting for…kids to get shot in their classroom because the BDF is opening fire randomly? And to the spectators…what the hell were you doing not moving out of the way? There were women actually confronting these armed soldiers. Then when one gets shot? We would cry “abuse of power”.

As for the men who were murdered. We know nothing. Who are they? Why were they targeted? Who would have wanted them murdered? Some are painting them as victims. Hmmmmmm. Let’s not do that just yet. Like I said, we know nothing. The only innocent victims in all of this are the children being terrorized on a daily basis. In the meantime, can we not use their deaths to vilify the GOB, poor people, the South Side? This problem is OUR problem. There is no one reason it is happening and no one solution to fix it. We are all complicit in the criminal lifestyle. Yes I said it… ALL. All of us have a brother, cousin, father, mother, sister, auntie, somebody involved in something that is illegal and we all look the other way. It is a lifestyle. You want this to stop? Start right in your own house.

Daily Dingleberry 08-13-12 Is Anything Really Going to Happen to the Banana Industry?

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Now that the news is sinking in about John Zabaneh and the potential negative consequences of being blacklisted by OFAC, people are coming to his defense saying that he has done so much for his community and Belize as a whole by creating jobs and providing community support. It is a consideration…maybe. What is the cost of these jobs and money generated by his portion of the banana industry? Can we honestly say it’s worth it to be a part of a world wide drug war to have a couple hundred jobs? Do we care that many families are affected by drug trafficking in ways we can’t begin to fathom just so we can have a few jobs that people are saying is mostly worked by illegal aliens anyway? What are the real life consequences we can expect or is it much ado about nothing and we will see business as usual in a hotttt minute?

Daily Dingleberry 08-08-12 Do We Really Want to Get Rid of Corruption and Crime?

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Who Gwein?

In light of the US blacklisting three Belizean business men, John Zabaneh, Dion Zabaneh and Daniel Moreno, I just have to ask this question: Are we really ready for a sweep? We all say we are tired of the crime and dead bodies piling up. We are afraid to sleep easy lest someone breaks into our houses and harms our children. We bemoan the sad fact that it has become common place for bullets to graze our heads in drive bys or in our case, “bicycle bys”. It is very clear that the cartels are setting up shop in our tiny, very strategically placed country. Many of our friends and neighbours have gone from living in wooden shacks to owning concrete monstrosities cause hey, let’s face it, just cause you have money don’t mean you got style. (smirk) But sarcasm aside, we congratulate them, perhaps even envy their good luck and admire their ability to evade justice. We, as a society, have accepted this lifestyle and even appear to condone it as we turn a blind eye and point to them as examples of success. We wash their blood money clean as we take their generous donations in our churches and schools “for the children”.

Here’s the thing. This drug culture has infiltrated every facet our existence. It’s the obvious hustler on the street, the walking dead strung out on crack…but they aren’t the real problem are  they? The problem is the customs officer who looks the other way, pocketing a few hundred dollars. It is the police “losing evidence”. It is the minister shaking  hands over business deals to launder millions. It is the mother practically selling her daughter for bags of groceries and jobs for her sons. What are we going to do when all this is revealed and our “benefactors” are faced with a list of criminal charges as long as the Litany? Are we strong enough to turn from temptation of material wealth, new found prestige and status in order to clean up our communities? Who is going to step up to change the future of our country from being known as the “asshole of the world”?

Given that so many of us have our hands in the cookie jar, I don’t think the queue will be very long. But then again….maybe we wont get a choice. Big Brother is waving his big stick….and we about tah get a smack down.

Daily Dingleberry 06-11-12 Don’t Hang Capital Punishment On This Little Girl

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While I absolutely understand and appreciate the public’s reaction to the case of Jasmine Lowe, I feel the need to caution those of you hollerin’ about “Hang them!” “Bring back capital punishment” “Flog these monsters in the town square!”.That is an “end to the story” consideration…there is so much we have to do to get there.

The Jasmine Lowe case is about firstly, cultural issues. We have to address the fact that girls are extremely vulnerable in our society because of many issues surrounding how parents talk to their children about predators, sex, violence, self defense. We continuously treat sexual abuse and violence against women and children as taboo and “not my business”. The victims are avoided and shunned while the abusers continue to hold their position in society and walk around free.

Secondly, it is about immigration issues. Our communities have changed dramatically because of the influx of immigrants. Someone pointed out that half of our cab drivers are immigrants. That means that we don’t know our neighbours anymore and as such, there must be other ways to ensure safety.

Which brings me to the third point. We have to stop accepting archaic laws and stop fighting attempts to modernize our laws and policies. I understand that the issue of registering/licensing cabs/drivers was already addressed and that it was met with refusal and outright defiance. The cab drivers cited cost as their main reason.

This brings me to my fourth point: we need to stop being so damned MYOPIC. Yes that was one aspect of changing the law: cost to the cab drivers BUT did you consider that it is a public safety issue? We have to be able to accurately identify “friendlys” from enemies and predators.  And Jasmine’s case clearly points to how children become victims but what about the elderly? tourists? and the cab drivers themselves who are exposed to danger when criminals use them to commit crimes disposing of them when they are finished? If there were better tracking devices/practices we can deter people from victimizing cab drivers themselves and when they do it anyway, we can better pin point who is the responsible criminal.

Along these same lines: why do we always find reasons to NOT do something? When Mary K Cariddi proposed the Jasmine Taxi Law, people attacked it for all kinds of reasons and yes there are valid considerations BUT the underlying message was: “why bother trying? It will never pass.”  Well crap! If you think like this? Sure it wont get passed! Nothing wrong with examining obstacles BUT only if your intent is to find ways around them….That was NOT what I saw happening…What I want us to do from now on is appreciate someone’s good intentions. Stop nit picking things to death and find ways to OVERCOME limitations. Stop being so negative and narrow minded. That is why Belize is stagnating swamp of a place…our goddamned attitude.

So then…here’s the fifth point: Jasmine Lowe’s case is about INVESTIGATIVE PROTOCOL. We can’t talk about bringing back capital punishment when we can’t even collect evidence, determine cause of death, arrest a suspect, prosecute him/her then finally get to the sentencing part???????? HOLY JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH! For me, the salient point to alllllll of this outcry about Jasmine is: We have been sold a bill of goods. We were told that we could hope for justice because we have a police force dedicated to its job of protecting and serving. BUT that just wasn’t true and the friggin powers tht be knew it ALLLLLLLL along. The main character in any investigation into any violent crime is your goddamned medical examiner…and this mudderfucker has been giving us NOTHING for years. You can’t convict anybody without proof people!

I am stunned  that this injustice has been perpetuated for decades…and I will accuse the entire justice system, any and everybody who works in it of being an accomplice. No wonder defense lawyers have such an easy time getting off alllll their friggin clients?! And shame on you for letting it go on….lawyers, police, magistrates…you all knew something was wrong and you didn’t address it…Anyway…now it’s out…and we need him out…so I need your help…You owe us…

Which brings me to my final point: YOU WORK FOR US. ALL OF YOU HAVE A JOB BECAUSE OF ‘WE THE PEOPLE”.

This divide between law enforcement and the public has to be bridged. The public is afraid of you, does not trust you and with good reason. We feel hopeless and frustrated with the dismissive way we are treated by the police. There are many stories of abuse and misconduct. I have been through it myself and it is awful. Even when citizens are trying to do their duty, you make it so difficult. You have taught us not to depend on you and you are cultivating a culture of vigilante justice.

So I hope I have made my point very clear: Jasmine Lowe is NOT about capital punishment….so please stop yellin about it….now is not the time…I know you are angry and feel this is an answer but at this point, it is only detracting from getting real solutions to the real problems…

Daily Dingleberry 06-09-12 Just when Mary K Cariddi Was Talking Me Off The Soapbox, THIS ISH HAPPENS!

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Ok…so Mary K Cariddi or Aunt Kathy to me, sort of “put me to rights” yesterday when I decried the incompetence of our police force. She was quick to point out that there are many good, honest, “want to do the right thing” police officers out there who can’t because they lack training, leadership and proper funding/resources. I agreed because that is true and I wasn’t actually talking about individual police officers. I was talking about the whole system. Ok so we came to that place where we could both see that we were on the same page.

BUT THEN……..

I read the transcript from Channel 7 News and my ire went right back up. Sorry Aunt Kath but I do have to go after an individual police officer and yes I know that he is not all etc……

Reporter
“With respect to speculations; the girl may have been rape. That was also inconclusive as well?”

 

Senior Superintendent Chester Williams
“Yes that was also inconclusive but I doubt pretty much that she was rape because I don’t see a rapist raping a child and then putting back on her clothes so perfectly because her clothes was totally intact. It doesn’t seem to have been tampered with. I am not saying that she was not rape but I doubt she was.”


 

 

HOW CAN HE SAY ANY OF THIS WITHOUT SOLID FUCKIN FORENSIC PROOF????? O wait..WE DON’T HAVE ANY!!!!!!

Look Mistah Senior Superintendent Chestah Williams…I have no doubt that you are sincere and that you mean well but pretty please…don’t speculate. People are very angry and worried and fear for the safety of their children. Don’t come on here with no real evidence and give false hope, ok? And the powers that be, please train these people to know what t say and what not to say?!

Aye Yai Yai…..breathing…..

For full transcript: http://www.7newsbelize.com/sstory.php?nid=22649

 

Daily Dingleberry 04-25-12 The Great Equalizer

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No Escape

In life, they were mortal enemies. In death, they lay side by side for such is the great equalizing force of DEATH.

There is much controversy surrounding the deaths of rival gang leaders Pinky and Arthur Young…Some are vehemently unsympathetic while others seem to be almost trying to turn them in to martyrs.

What are the lessons we should be learning? Are they being lost in all the anti-government/anti-police sentiment?

Let’s remember something: when you choose the lifestyle, you choose the consequences. It is sad. People will die. There will be violence. People will mourn.

My brother’s best friend who grew up like a brother in our household, was a drug dealer. He crossed the wrong people and he was beaten and then set on fire…he left behind a young son who I have never seen again. I assume he and his mother are in hiding. I was so angry with him for doing this to himself, his family, our family and it was right before my wedding….HORRIBLE….that was not even the end of the story…other people died, went to jail, were deported…lives were destroyed and families were torn apart.

I know first hand, the life of drugs and gangs. When they have met what seems to be an inevitable end, we, who are left behind, have to deal with the pain and sorrow, threats and fear of retaliation.

I can only hope that the youth who are watching and learning, see that in the end, there is only one end.

Daily Dingleberry 04-04-12 Understanding Leads to Solutions; Debate Only Distracts

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They are our sons.

According to a survey of criminologists in 2008, 88% of the participants asked whether or not the death penalty is a deterrent of crime said NO. They also said that while politicians argue for it to appear tough on crime, this ongoing debate on distracts from actually developing solutions. http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/study-88-criminologists-do-not-believe-death-penalty-effective-deterrent Why then do we continue to demand  the death penalty?

This really is a reflection of a lack of basic understanding of the psychology of the criminal. A criminal simply weighs the pros and cons of breaking the law. When the price is small, the criminal chooses to pay the prize. When the price is steep, the criminal only becomes better at what he is doing and he becomes organized- he forms a gang. It is a simple cost-benefit analysis like any other business organization. Over and over again, it is observed that in states with the three strikes law, these criminals tend to be more ruthless by killing their potential witnesses rather than face going to jail for the rest of their lives.

What this scenario fails to again for however, is that people who are in a gang are also part of other entities. Decisions are not made in a vacuum. When criminals are educated about the effects their actions have on other parts of their lives: family, neighbourhood, community, this moral dimension seems to have more of an impact on deterring criminal behaviour than the severity of punishment. http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/ulterior-motives/200906/crime-and-punishment-moral-deterrents-crime

So what does this say to us? Instead of only focusing on punishment which is the end of one criminal career only to begin another one in jail MOST of the time, we need to intervene at the point of the DECISION making.  Providing alternative motivations, as the article suggests, seems to be a step in the right direction.

ENGAGE. EDUCATE. ENLIGHTEN. EMPOWER

Daily Dingleberry 03-22-12 We Are One

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In every society, there will be poor people for various reasons.  In every rich family, there will be poor of spirit and weak constitutions.   In every Church, there will be bigots and the self serving. In every school, there will be ignorant teachers with authoritarian attitudes. In every corporation, there will be greed and embezzlement. In every court, there will be bribery and injustice. In every government, there will be inefficiencies and bureaucratic obstacles. My point? Every institution has rules, protocol, ideologies BUT every institution is only as good as the people who work within them. Just because we face challenges, does that mean we should holler and scream insults? Spread accusations? Hurl slander? Overthrow everything? Incite division?

Oi….it is painful to watch all the fighting going on, because all that energy is being wasted. It is one thing to criticise. What is the purpose though? Is it toward betterment? More success? OR are we just saboteurs and greifers? Observations are crucial for development. We have to know what is wrong in order to fix it, right? But what I’m seeing out here is just counterproductive to everything we all claim to want for our beautiful Belize.

If you have an issue with something our leaders are doing, why call them names and wreak havoc? Can’t we act civilly and towards a productive end? If there is corruption, then gather the evidence and do your civic duty by reporting crime or participating in some sort of advocacy group. If there is crime that is reaching your homes and neighbourhoods, report your child, your husband, your friend. If you worry about your children’s future, work with your church, your PTA, your city council to make sure schools have what they need. If you worry about health issues, get educated. Find out what you need to know, what you can do and how to prevent everything you can.

Do you hear what I am telling you? You are the only one who knows what you need. You are the only one who can do the best for you. You have to work with what you have and then reach for more. But all that yelling and hollering….will soon fall on deaf ears and you will still not have what you want and need. You have to work for it. So start at home with your kids. Teach them to be fair and honest. Confront wrongdoing and prejudiced thinking. Ask of yourself all the things you ask of others.

GET INVOLVED. LET’S REBUILD BELIZE TOGETHER