Family Says State of Emergency Blocked Wake for Murder Victim

A grieving family in Ladyville says they’ve been denied the chance to properly mourn their loved one, all because of the State of Emergency (SOE) regulations. The family of Nelson “Mung” Henry, who was murdered on May fifth, claims police stopped them from holding a wake, an important tradition in Belizean mourning customs. Under the SOE, it’s illegal for three or more people to gather in designated areas, a rule that authorities say applies even to wakes. Henry’s death is believed to be linked to the same gang feud that triggered the SOE in the first place. But for his family, the pain is now twofold: losing a loved one and being blocked from saying goodbye in the way their culture and community have always done. Despite the emotional plea, the Belize Police Department is standing firm. At a press conference today, officials showed no signs of backing down on the enforcement of SOE rules. So, what about sporting events in these same areas? That’s the question reporters put to the head table today, raising concerns about inconsistencies in how the rules are being applied.

 

Dr. Richard Rosado, Commissioner of Police

“Remember the State of Emergency regulation prohibits certain things, the loitering, the gathering of three or more persons, so several things are restricted under the SOE. So once those areas fall under the SOE, the regulation prohibits certain things from occurring. Any gathering of three or more persons is restricted under the state of emergency.”

 

Paul Lopez

“What about sporting events for example?”

 

Dr. Richard Rosado

“Any gathering over three or more persons is restricted under the state of emergency, those areas that are designated under the state of emergency.”

 

Inspector Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“Indeed as the commissioner rightly mentioned when areas are already designated as state of emergency there is an import of monitoring activities. What we have seen or known in the past is that many of these wakes are a catalyst for incidents that arise after. So, yes the wake limits three or more persons, but if the wake is to happen it has to happen in a very organized way that does not spill out into the street in terms of loitering. Whenever it is that a lot of persons are gathered in these areas of course it is the import of police to ensure they properly police those areas.”