Wednesday’s meeting between the Prime Minister, Hon. Dean Barrow and the Leader of the Opposition Hon. Johnny Briceno, probably put a new dimension to politics in this country. It has always been that traditionally the Opposition would oppose any government policy set in place to address any particular issue. And we’ve grown to know opposition parties to do just that- oppose. The new dimension introduced in the meeting between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the opposition is one that sees political parties beginning to mature to the point where they don’t have to oppose everything.
Briceno, probably having seen the merits and potential of the Restore Belize program was all too happy to jump on to the program. After all there is nothing much that he could have done, realizing that the PUP themselves really don’t have any better plan. Truth be told however, the Restore Belize Program is an all encompassing one that will see the issue of crime addressed in a truly holistic manner. For years, decades really, the issue of crime has been one that has plagued the Belizean society. And like with most things, we as a people have always chanted the same old tune “crime needs to be addressed in a holistic manner,” however it has not been until now, under a UDP administration that the issue is truly being addressed in that ‘holistic’ manner.
But what really is that holistic approach to combating crime? Well government under the leadership of Hon. Dean Barrow, has decided that through a coordinated approach, the three major contributors to crime in society will be addressed. The social, enforcement and prosecution aspects to crime will all be addressed in a synchronized manner.
Through social programs, specific targets will be identified and addressed. Those societal targets include the restoration of family values and the improving of neighborhoods in a realistic manner. Children who are out of school will be placed in schools, slum-like conditions in neighborhoods will be ameliorated and a sense of pride and dignity will be re-introduced into segments of society that are considered to be too far gone to remedy. Then the police department will be looked at.
True reform measures will be introduced into that department that for years upon years has seen nothing but neglect and which has been allowed to fall into the pits of maladministration and in some instances- corruption. Through a concerted effort these issues will be addressed to stem the ever growing perception that the Belize Police Department is no more than an organized gang of persons who use the law for their own benefit. The third prong of the approach will be the revamping of the Judicial system to ensure that when persons are brought before the courts they are prosecuted to the full extent of the law and with and increased rate of convictions.
No one can deny that the program is an admirable one, one that took vision and the political will to implement. We’ve known for years now what the problems have been however we’ve never taken the time out to address them. The Restore Belize program then, gives us hope that there is someone at the helm with the capacity to think of solutions and more importantly to implement them. Its not going to be an easy task, after all some of the responsibilities to restore Belize will begin with choices that we make as individuals, however if we truly want to see the program succeed and make Belize a better place to live then we must be willing to adjust our own behaviors and attitudes for it to work.
