The matter of the thirteen-year-old boy who is currently incarcerated at the Wagner’s Youth Facility is making the news for yet another day. There’s been backlash against the authorities for rounding up the minor and putting him in lockdown as part of the state of emergency. Today, seasoned attorney Richard “Dickie” Bradley blasted the authorities for locking down a child who has not been convicted of the allegations made against him. Furthermore, Bradley criticized the Ministry of Home Affairs for imposing the state of emergency for an event that is not a natural disaster.
Richard “Dickie” Bradley
Richard “Dickie” Bradley, Attorney at Law
“In our wonderful country, a thirteen-year-old can be taken to the prison and presumably also, according to a legal representative for the family, it’s alleged that he also is in the hole. Man, for me it’s just becoming unacceptable that these things are going on right in front of everybody’s eyes. You could just pick up people and say yoh deh eena wa gang, goh da jail. And then when the thirty days or one month are up, we wa extend the period, man because nobody is – in the society, we should be protected by the church leaders, especially by the media who are probing and trying to get information to expose wrongdoing when it is going on. His lawyer has said to the media, and I’m sure she’s going to go to the high court and we are depending on the high court to show no mercy to those who are abusingtheir authority and di tek chance offa black people and poor people.”
Reporter
“Are you able to speak about the fact that the attorney has pointed out – that’s Leslie Mendez – that this child, he’s a minor, has not been convicted. So everything that the State is alleging all of these at this point are mere allegations of him shooting at anyone or trying to do so.”
Dickie Bradley
“Of course, they are allegations. Nobody’s there because they’re convicted because if you’re convicted, you wouldn’t be out here. You would either be serving time or be paying a fine. This is a frightening, ongoing development in the society. When you go back to your office, you pull out Section Twenty of the Constitution that says you can call a state of emergency where there is an earthquake, a hurricane, a flood, a war, some natural disaster that is putting all of us, maybe a section of the city, a section of the country, all of us are at risk because something of such major proportions has taken place. But you shoot three people and we’re in a state of emergency? I heard the minister responsible for social services and women and presumably children say on the news last night that after they finish do wa investigation, then they want to decide, my God, take the lee bwai outta jail right now and house him in some youth facility till you can straighten out the matter. They don’t have any empathy. They don’t have any feeling for what they are doing.”
According to Bradley, the prime minister is ill-advised on the matter involving the teenage minor. The seasoned attorney then goes on to say that as signatory to several conventions, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Belize has an obligation to protect children.
Richard “Dickie” Bradley
Richard “Dickie” Bradley, Attorney-at-law
“That is an example of the persons around the prime minister who are offering him bad advice. It’s not for the prime minister to be knowledgeable of everything going on in the country, but there are persons who are specifically charged and paid to be responsible. The Minister of Police and the Minister of Human Development… Human Development, that is the ministry, because that inhumane development that is taking place. If they say to the prime minister, PM, we don’t want him in youth hostel or whatever because of so and so, what is the prime minister to do? The prime minister need fi somebody tell ahn, “PM, instruct dehn mek dehn tek da bwai outta jail right now and put him so and so and so. You can even put that child… that is not acceptable. It’s not acceptable fi di Commissioner of Police. We in this country, we are part of the regional and international community of nations, we have wah responsibility to look after children. If we are treating children like that then we are gone, then we are gone, because then dehn di grow up and other lee pickney di grow up and dehn di sih dehn thing and di hear dehn thing. You could know weh kinda influence; you could know weh di talk eena di streets bout Belize, how dehn man deh feel when dehn seh like, “F*** my bwai, dis da weh dehn do wid pickney yoh know, so and so.”
A sixty-four-year-old Hattieville resident is facing seven years behind bars for the sexual assault of a minor. Leo Smith stood trial for allegedly asking a ten-year-old for sex. He then promised her that he would give her two dollars in exchange. The trial against Smith concluded in June and today the court found him guilty of the crime. Reports are that on December first, Smith removed the child’s clothing and made the request, but she managed to escape from him and later told her mother what happened. The child’s testimony and that of her mother played a huge role in the court’s verdict. In court, the Senior Magistrate told Smith that there was no reason not to believe the child’s testimony. The Senior Magistrate described the testimonies as unshaken and credible. When Smith heard the verdict and that he would be remanded pending sentencing, he almost fell in court still in shock over the decision. Smith immediately got defensive and said he will be appealing the conviction. Smith said in court that the victim came to court and told lies about him and fabricated the story. Then he began to question how it was that the clothing which the child claims he took off her was never brought to court. The sitting Senior Magistrate explained to Smith that at this stage, it is not the time for him to try to put up another defense and that he had the opportunity to do so already during the trial. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August second. Smith indicated to the court he has individuals he wishes to call as character witnesses. He further stated that he only visited the house to take some seafood there and that while putting the products into the refrigerator, he stepped on the child’s foot and that was it. Smith denied ever touching the child inappropriately in any sexual way.
Just a few days after the five-year death anniversary of Dangriga resident Geraldine Flowers, the family is speaking up to voice confusion over the matter. In June 2019, forty-one-year-old Flowers was found shot dead inside her home and her cousin, Stephen Reid who had been visiting at the time, had suffered a stab wound. Subsequently, Rodwell Arzu, the ex-boyfriend of Flowers was charged with the murder. It’s been five years of demanding justice from the family of Flowers, and tonight, they demand answers. Ione Jones-Waller, sister of the deceased, claims that the family had never been informed of or summoned to the trials and only learned of the trial’s outcome after spotting Arzu walking the streets. Tonight, she asks, why?
Ione Jones-Waller
Ione Jones-Waller, Sister of Deceased
“The things that get to us is that, they halla its a nolle pros. How can this case be a nolle pros. A nolle pros meaning that you don’t have any witness. We have a main witness that is a Belize Defense Force soldier. How can you not find the main witness in this case? You as the police department, D.P.P., you guys need to go at Price Barracks and look for the main witness in this case. Come on. We as the family member unu lef we with a hole in our heart to know that they killed our, my sister, our sister, and nothing come out of it. MeIn come on. As far as I’m concerned, and far as I know, you have a lot of cases that go that the main witness either dead, or they can’t find deh, and what they do, they use the same statement that the main witness already give in to the police department and use that as an evidence to submit a case. What is, what wrong with our case? Why? What wrong? I want the higher authority to please answer me and answer me what went wrong with my sister’s Geraldine Flowers, Geraldine Jones Flowers case. We don’t know anything about the case. Nobody from Dangriga didn’t contact us. Nobody from Dangriga didn’t call none of us. Nobody. It left me a lot of words because we get to know that this young man walked as a free with a nolle pros case because a family friend from Dangriga call us last night, about 8:30 and tell us that she saw him in Dangriga. And he tell them that he get a nolle pros case. Come on. This is unfair to us as our family mein. It really hurt us. It really hurt us.”
On Friday, Mayor Earl Trapp wrote the chairman of the United Democratic Party demanding the immediate dismissal of Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber for bringing the U.D.P. into disrepute. That letter was leaked to the media and made headlines in our evening newscast. On July twenty-ninth, Trapp wrote once again to Chairman Mike Peyrefitte, expressing dissatisfaction over the leak of that letter. He also made an about-face regarding his call for Faber’s removal. In that letter, Trapp stated, quote, since the release of my letter, I have received a significant number of phone calls, text messages and personal requests from faithful U.D.P. supporters asking that I retract the said letter. At the end of the day, I am here as a servant of the people, and I am guided by their concerns. I am now of the firm view, after widespread consultation, that the expulsion of Patrick Faber will cause more harm than good to our beloved party. It is my sincere hope that the entire leadership of our party will from this point forward refrain from personal attacks and instead be guided by the party’s constitution and keep the best interest of the U.D.P. at heart, end quote. As we’ve reported, the National Party Council will meet on Saturday at the U.D.P. headquarters here in Belize City.
Doris Grant, the woman accused of a multitude of fraudulent land transactions was back in court. The charge of being a member of a gang, was called up today but apparently there was a judgment in the High Court today that was not in Grant’s favour. The matter was brought up by Norman Smith in a civil matter against Grant for damages amounting to almost two hundred thousand dollars. One of Grant’s attorneys, Richard “Dickie” Bradley, told reporters at the court while there for another matter that he was puzzled by another offense for which Grant was charged.
Richard “Dickie” Bradley
Richard “Dickie” Bradley, Attorney for Doris Grant
“I was here on another matter, but I spoke with her because she’s my client in another court and, in fact, I was able to – she brought down her papers and you won’t believe this is shocking to all of us – that Doris Grant is in prison because she’s on the State of Emergency for murder (Chuckles). Man, dehn could just put a charge pahn anybody like that. Who she murder, when she murder, nothing like that nuh there, but she is in the hole in the prison because she’s alleged to be involved in gang, and the paper that took her to State of Emergency is that she’s also being accused of being involved with a murder. Who, when, where. Let’s just try and apply the little bit of common sense that God has given us. Unu really believe that some Mennonites gave Doris Grant five million dollars cash to get a piece of land? Unu really believe that?”
Reporter
“In the case of Doris Grant and that S.O.E. detention, are you aware if, as required under the Constitution and the same S.I’s for the S.O.E., whether she has been brought or has been informed that she will be brought before a tribunal to address those aspects?”
Richard Bradley
“I’m not sure if documentation has been given to her and I was a little bit, slightly, concerned that this business of a tribunal is being exposed because previously, they just pick you up and lock you up. You nuh goh fronta no tribunal, nobody no follow no law.”
Bradley chided the government for what he thought were inappropriate methods of dealing with police matters where criminals are concerned. He lamented on the amount that is invested on training law enforcement personnel and compared Belize to Salvador’s Nayib Bukele, described as a man with a heavy fist.
Richard “Dickie” Bradley, Attorney at law
“You don’t hear no talk that this year in the budget we’re going to have one dozen more investigators. Highly trained, highly motivated to accept. That is where you start. You start with investigating the crime, gathering the evidence so no liar can go and the person walk free. Get the evidence. Now let’s understand something. There are people in our society because of how we are left out. We don’t have no knowledge. We don’t have no information. We are poorly informed and so they would want. Prime Minister Briceño who will not do it. Behave like Bukele from San Salvador. Lock up people by the hundreds. Lock them up. Lock them. That is their view.”
A new sexual harassment legislation is seeking to hold employers accountable, to ensure that there is a zero-tolerance policy in workplaces across the country. The Anti-Sexual Harassment Act was recently debated and passed through the National Assembly with support from both sides of the aisle. It places significant emphasis on the workplace where sexual harassment may lead to a hostile working environment. In some cases, individuals engage in unwelcome sexual advances as a form of quid pro quo. Research shows that women are the most common targets of sexual harassment in the workplace. The Anti-Sexual Harassment Act mandates that employers must establish a sexual harassment policy and take immediate action when they become aware of a reported incident, among other requirements. In this week’s installment of the Five Point Break Down, News Five’s Paul Lopez takes a closer look at the legislation and how it stands to impact the workplace. Here is that report.
The Anti-Sexual Harassment Act
Paul Lopez, Reporting
The Government of Belize is making its position on sexual harassment in the workplace explicit with its Anti-Sexual Harassment Act. The drafting of the legislation was spearheaded by the Ministry of Human Development, headed by Minister Dolores Balderamos-Garcia.
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Minister of Human Development.
“So basically now we are putting a serious onus on the workplace and the employers who control that workplace to ensure there is little sexual harassment as possible. Section sixteen of the act says if the employer is aware and knows that there is sexual harassment taking place, he or she has a responsibility to mediate, to let it be known and to take action. Then at that point if you have full awareness abo0ut it and do nothing there can be liability. We need to send the strong message that there must zero tolerance of sexual harassment. We hear reports within government, within organizations, within the private sector, it is real. It is real, sexual harassment is real and we have to send the strongest of message and messages that there needs to be accountability.”
What is Sexual Harassment?
The United Nations defines sexual harassment as unwelcome verbal or physical sexual advances, and request for sexual favors, especially when used as a term or condition for an individual’s employment. The Anti-Sexual Harassment Act places significant emphasis on the workplace.
Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
The Anti-Sexual Harassment legislation stipulates that an employer must make every reasonable effort to ensure that his or her employees are not sexually harassed in the course of their employment. One of the ways this is to be done is through the issuance of a policy statement in writing on prevention of sexual harassment. Employers must also ensure that they take the necessary steps to bring this policy statement to the attention of all employees. Employers and institutions are being afforded twelve months from the time the legislation is enacted to have such a policy in place.
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia
“We are saying that businesses must have an anti-sexual harassment policy andthe policy should be in writing, especially again for the bigger places. Again, not the big organizations, but your organizations that have many employees. The organization that has the most employees in the country is the Government of Belize, we have a huge amount of government workers. So government and ministries will have to have their written policy and to promulgate it and make sure people know about it so that we send a strong message.”
The Anti-Sexual Harassment Debate
A blueprint of the anti-sexual harassment policy required in every organization is outlined within the act. The policy must speak to how an employer will deal with sexual harassment reports, disciplinary actions, the internal mechanisms to make such a complaint and guidelines for confidentiality. The policy must also clearly state that the employee has a right to seek redress through conciliation or from the court. The bill was recently debated in the National Assembly with full support from its members.
Eamon Courtenay
Eamon Courtenay, Lead Senator for Government Business
“It is a critically important bill in a society like our, indeed in any society, but in our society, and it is mostly males there is sexual harassment.”
Michael Peyrefitte
Michael Peyrefitte, Lead Opposition Senator
“While people do get sexually harassed, once you are hit with that stigma and accused with that, whether true or not, that is with you for life. So it is also a serious thing to accuse somebody of it. It should be made aware that there are penalties for making false accusations and the like.”
Kevin Herrera
Kevin Herrera, Business Senator
“There has to be an intolerance to this type of thing. And so, when it is identified, companies and organizations have a responsibility to act and ensure that they address that situation immediately,. That is an extremely goof thing because for far too long persons have suffered the indignities of harassment in many forms in this country.”
A Comprehensive Approach to Anti-Sexual Harassment
Minister Garcia explained that before the legislation is enacted, a period of two weeks is being given for further comments and recommendations. And, while the Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill places emphasis on the workplace, it also focuses on stomping out sexual harassment in institutions such as schools, detention facilities and hospitals. There are also provisions that speak to landlords and their tenants. The legislation is described as comprehensive and far reaching.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Sexual harassment is mostly against women, but men are also sexual harassed. We have to take that into consideration. This is something that protects everybody, both men, women, at home, in the workplace, public, wherever it is. In school, where a lot of time we get complaints from parents about the harassment of their children, mostly daughters, but children in general. We had a long discussion about this in Cabinet so it is not something we are passing just for passing. We have to make sure we cover all the bases and that it is something that can work in Belize, in the workplace, in schools, to ensure we can give the protection our citizens need against sexual harassment.”
We also reached out to the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry for its position on the Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill. Just before news time B.C.C.I. sent a statement saying that it has reviewed and engaged its membership on the proposed bill. B.C.C.I. says it supports the bill’s objective of addressing sexual harassment in the workplace. The private sector organization noted that the bill provides clear guidelines for employers to handle cases of sexual harassment and provides a valuable policy framework for adoption, adding that it will benefit businesses and safeguard workers from harassment. On the other hand, B.C.C.I. says it has identified specific procedural aspects it believes can benefit from some revisions to strengthen protections for employees and employers. B.C.C.I. concluded the statement saying that it appreciates the National Assembly’s invitation for feedback on this legislation and that it will be submitting detailed suggestions through the appropriate channels.
The Belize International Music and Food Festival had its hiccups, but it was a significant boost for business in San Pedro. While the official figures are yet to be released, the preliminary report is that the event provided economic stimulus to the town during the tourism off season. News Five’s Marion Ali spoke with the Chairman of the Belize Tourism Industry Association’s San Pedro Chapter, who said the event benefited everyone economically. Here’s that report.
Marion Ali, Reporting
The Belize International Music and Food Festival has been described as hugely successful from an economic standpoint. The event is said to be on par with San Pedro Lobster Fest. Chairman of San Pedro’s BTIA, Nicholas Scavone tells News Five that the population literally doubled over the weekend.
Nichloas Scavone
Nicholas Scavone, Chairperson, B.T.I.A., San Pedro Branch
“I had heard that it was fifteen thousand people attend the music fest. The population – the resting population of the entire town of San Pedro, right? That was there, so you had our fifteen thousand plus fifteen thousand that came in. Even though it was raining, people were out there in the rain dancing. There was food, there was music. All the restaurants were full, the nightclubs were full, the town was full; the suppliers and the grocery stores had just gotten their supplies that week, and already you could see the huge dent that the local uptick in tourism has put on that. So it’s really extended our season right through up to the end of July. It was a tremendous success and a tremendous economic push for our island.”
Preliminary reports are that hotel occupancy in San Pedro was significantly higher for people in that industry. Scavone says the festival, along with other major events are the reasons for the increase.
Nicholas Scavone
“We had a lot of people from the mainland, a lot of local people came in and enjoyed the time, taking advantage of the lower rates, and we did have quite a number of tourists that came down. Whether they came down specifically for the music fest or not, I cannot be sure but July, in general, saw a good uptick for I know we had some for lobster fest. We know there’s a traditional amount of people that come down for the lobster fest. We did have people that came over in some quantity for the fishing tournament that we have here and I can only think that the music fest added to that attraction, which kept them here, perhaps, but occupancies in the hotels were significantly higher than we normally would expect for this time in July.”
According to Scavone, the infusion of economic activity in San Pedro during the off-season is welcoming because it created good business for everyone who rely on tourism.
Nicholas Scavone
“A lot of it goes into the pockets of the hoteliers, the restauranteurs, the taxi drivers the people who sell the crafts, the bars Bowen and Bowen for selling their products, the wholesalers, the distributors, the grocery stores, because people come down and everybody stops off at the various grocery stores in there filling up. The benefits from that, just all-around vendors, all that money goes into their pockets. And of course the flow through from that is the increased level of GST we get, the fact that the B.T.B. gets more hotel tax coming in on the 9 percent of the uptick in occupancy.”
Estimates of revenues to the Belize Tourism Board have not yet been released. Marion Ali for News Five.
