The thirteenth change triggers the national debate about crime and rights

Before that, we told them about thirteenth changes from the government's public consultation to the proposed bill, and it is a suggestion that raises concerns across the country. Briceño's government says it is a necessary step to restore order in communities that are plagued by crimes. However, critics argue that the door could open for serious human rights violations. The draft law also proposes a new court for weapons and gear and aims to retrospectively legalize previous emergency states, some of which have previously become unconstitutional. What does this mean for your rights and security? In this issue of the five-point encryption, we unpack the most important snack bars from the thirteenth change and what it could mean for the future of Belize.

Kenneth “Big Tom” Flowers, Belize City Resident

“These people in the community do not even worry about these changes. Some of them or some of them don't even take care of it. They don't even know what it is. You understand? To time when the time knocks on your door.”

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Britney Gordon, reporting

At the beginning of this year, a judgment of the High Court sent shock waves across the country. It was found that sixteen men who were imprisoned during an emergency from 2020 were illegally imprisoned, and the government was instructed to pay them over three hundred thousand dollars of compensation. But here it gets complicated. In a separate courtroom, another judge decided that the government's actions were legally justified. So what now? Well, the current administration, albeit not the one who explained the SOE, now takes the bill. In response to this, you have introduced the bill of thirteenth changes, a controversial proposal that would make all earlier emergencies of emergencies legally untouchable. So what exactly is in this bill? And how could it redesign the balance between public security and bourgeois freedom? The lawyer Darrell Bradley collapses everything for us

What is the 13^TH Change bill?

Darrell Bradley

Darrell Bradley, lawyer

“These things are addressed with the 13th amendment. Three types. Number one recognizes the explanation of special areas so that they can declare certain areas. Special zones can be areas that cover all of Belize, or they can be certain areas. Areas in the areas of emergency rooms.

In these proposed “special areas”, the police may seek, seize and arrest persons without arrest warrant. This is the increase in the red flags, especially in districts, which are repeatedly aimed at under the past exception. Although these tactics are not new, it would make it much more difficult for them to write them in court in the constitution. And that got many people. One of them is Kenneth Flowers, better known as “Big Tom”. He says that he has been arrested among all soe in the past four years, and he fears that this new law could make it even easier for the authorities to aim for people in his community for no reason.

“Big Tom”

Who will be affected by the invoice?

Kenneth “Big Tom” Flowers, Belize City Resident

“I'm becoming a victim of my past. Rights.”

The deputy lawyer Randall Sheppard says that the language of the proposed law is revised before it is completed.

How does the change differ from current legislation?

Randall Sheppard

Randall Sheppard, Asst. Attorney General, Attorney General

“Instead of granting the arrangement, as we have already mentioned, as I mentioned, the order in accordance with the law on the control and criminal judiciary of the crime and criminal judiciary is actually issued by the minister instead of admitting this instead of admitting the new provision in the constitution, which is proposed in Section 19 a.

As part of the proposed change, the authority to explain “special areas” would shift from the minister to the general governor, who must first contact the National Security Council or the National Consultant Committee. This change is also intended to cover emergency declarations for natural disasters. These emergency states would be limited to a month if it was not coordinated by a two thirds in the house. But not everyone is on board. Oppositionsims Senator Sheena Pitts says that the legislation misses the brand and argues that it is not the basic causes of crime.

Is the 13^TH Change an effective solution to crime?

Sheena Pitts

Sheena Pitts, oppositionSener

“The government does not make the police authority with the ability to solve crime. The government does not identify areas in which they can strengthen. Crime fighting mechanisms. Freedom.”

The Commission for the People's Constitution has recently completed a complete review of the Constitution of Belize, in which reform ideas are based on the basis of public contributions. But lawyer Darrell Bradley not only makes the legislation himself, but also about how it is progressed despite these wider constitutional review.

Darrell Bradley

“Which quarter of society has come up with it? So, which quarter of society is asking for such changes? Do you talk about law enforcement? Do you talk about the police? That people have told you what they want to address, and then we have something like this now.”

The invoice is still in the design mode, and public consultations play a key role in the design of what happens next. While many Belizaners are still on the fence or are directly skeptical, the police authority is all. They support the proposal and call it an urgently needed instrument in the fight against crime. Britney Gordon for News Five.

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