Santa Cruz Village Families Look To Put Bullying Incident Behind Them  

A viral video that captured a fourteen-year-old boy from Santa Cruz Village being bullied by a group of teenagers has led to a police investigation and mediation. Jose Amador was walking home from school when four boys from his village decided to record a video of themselves bullying him. In the video one of the teens is seen physically assaulting him. Today, we spoke with Amador in the presence of his aunt. He told us that this was not his first encounter with the boys. The Commissioner of Police also traveled down to Santa Cruz Village to meet with all parties involved, following a confrontation in the community that stemmed from the incident. We will tell you more about last night’s development. But first, News Five’s Paul Lopez tells us more about how authorities are dealing with the incident.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Fourteen-year-old Jose Daniel Amador is a student from Santa Cruz Village who appears in a viral video being bullied by a group or young men from his school. In the clip a young man is seen physically assaulting Amador. He did not retaliate.

 

Jose Amador, Victim of Bullying
“They teach me if somebody wants to give trouble, don’t listen to them, just continue your way and don’t listen to them.”

Paul Lopez
“Why do you think it is so hard for young people to do that this way?”

Jose Amador
“I don’t know really.”

 

Paul Lopez
“Because many people would have acted differently.”

 

Jose Amador
“Because they will act to protect themselves. Of course everybody will protect themselves, but I prefer leaving it into the hands of the police.”

 

His family did just that. The Belize Police Department detained the young men. This morning, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams was in Independence Village leading mediations between the family of Amador and that of the other boys.

 

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“People from all over condemned the video and upon receiving it yesterday I gave instructions to make sure they find all those persons who are involved and to have them dealt with. The young men were eventually detained by police and were charged for using a computer to bully another. And one of them was charged for causing harm to the young man.”

 

 

 

 

Amador’s mother is a pastor in Santa Cruz Village. According to ComPol Williams, she has agreed to have the matter be referred to a diversion program through the court.  The Families and Children’s Act stipulates that a court must always do what is in the best interest of the child.

Chester Williams
“I will be asking the court for two things, one for the court to order that the children who were a part of the bullish act to make a visit to the prison, the Central Prison and the purpose of that is for them to get an appreciation for what prison is about so that they understand if they continue the life they are having in terms of bullying people where they may end up. Next thing will be to ask the court if they young boys can be the face of an anti-bullying campaign.”

 

Amador’s Aunt, Wendy Lemus spoke on behalf of the family.

 

Wendy Lemus, Aunt of Bully Victim
“I think it is for the future for others also.  It is a lesson that everyone needs to learn that at thus young age doing what they are doing. What is it that they can turn into when they become adults. So this is the correct time, for the law, the police, what they are doing, I am satisfied with what they are doing. My sister is a Christian woman and she doesn’t want to continue, none of us, none of my family wants this to escalate more hence the reason why we are here today.”

 

Paul Lopez
“Why do you think it is hard for young people to talk about these situations? Was it hard to talk to your parents about bullying?”

Jose Amador
“Yes, because I don’t know how my parents would act and react. Maybe they would say because I the look for trouble.”

Paul Lopez
“But that wasn’t the case in this. Did you see the boys videoing?”

Jose Amador
“Yes.”

Paul Lopez
“And you saw the video come out on social media, what did you think?”

Jose Amador
“I think it was dumb because that is the proof that they were doing something and I have the case won because they are bullying me.”

We also heard from a family member of one of the boys charged for bullying. Elsworth Linarez is the grandfather of the child charged for harm. He was a part of today’s mediation in Independence Village.

 

Paul Lopez
“ As a father when you saw that video, what emotions does it evoke?”

Elsworth Linarez, Grandfather of Accused
“Bad. Ih hurt me. Mih grand son and what he did to the young man is ridiculous. From the time I see it happen and understand that the people will put it in the hands of police I tell my wife let the police deh do what they have to and we in the family, mother, aunt, uncle, everybody agree a hundred percent that he do wrong. Dah nuh like nobody the try deh pan the lee bway side. Dah like weh I tell daughter, weh ih do wrong and if he have to go to court and pay a consequence for it then ih have to do it. There is noway for him to get away with it. It is there for everybody to see. I dah nuh the mind of parents that will day my pikni or grand pikni dah nuh deh type of pikni deh.”

There has been an outpouring of support for Amador across social media.  Just before our interview with him, he was on the phone with an individual who is prepared to offer him a full high school scholarship. Amador and his family say that what was meant to break him is yielding many positive outcomes.

Paul Lopez
“what do you say to bullies?”

Jose Amador
“I will take the apology they have given, because everybody makes mistakes. So I will take their apology.”

Paul Lopez
“And what do you say to individuals that have been bullied before. What do you say to them to deal with it?”

Jose Amador
“Please don’t be afraid to tell your family members, your parents, talk to your family members, the teachers, but talk about it.”

Reporting for News 5, I am Paul Lopez.