Crime and Punishment II - Good news

Also on a more positive note are the actions being taken by the Government’s Police Chief, who took office last April. As part of a week long examination of the crime and violence issues, a local television station interviewed him. He has six officers in the U.S. being trained by the FBI in evidence gathering and analysis, more at a facility in Roswell, N.M. being trained in police work, and still more in Guatemala in training. In all, over 100 officers are being trained outside of the country. He is very aware of the problem and seems quite capable.

What is also important is that the Belize “community” is talking about it – people do not accept that “this is the way it is, and always will be” - the crime and violence are unacceptable. So they will find the skills, mechanisms and will to turn the problem around.

An article in Sunday’s paper reports that the prison has 1500 inmates, reportedly making Belize have the highest incarceration rate in Central America, and one of the highest in the Caribbean, and in the top 10 internationally. As I recall, the United States heads that list. The good news is that none of those 1500 is a political prisoner, Belize is a functioning democracy.

The other interesting thing I learned as a result of reading today’s paper is that the prison system is managed by a non-profit organization called the Kolbe Foundation. Apparently, in 2002 the prisons were so bad the government sought outside help. Members of the Rotary Club in Belize City formed a separate organization, a received the contract to manage the prison system. Included is the only drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility in the country – entirely within the prison’s walls. Because drugs and alcohol account for so much of the crime, and that includes the U.S. as well, it is a huge benefit to have a 90 day rehab in the prison, staffed by ex-cons who are in recovery. It’s too bad that enlightened course of incarceration and treatment isn’t used in the U.S. You can read more about the facility at www.kolbe.bz, although the site hasn’t been updated for a while.

So there is a high level of crime, especially in the inner city of Belize City, but the government, the media and the public are taking steps to correct it that could be a model for other communities in the world, and that includes the U.S.

The last word: Anyone considering visiting, moving to or investing in Belize should not be dissuaded by crime statistics. My experience has been very positive.