Letter to the Prime Minister

Dear Prime Minister:

My name is [student name] and I am tired of seeing our young people die day after day. After the devastating deaths of Jasmine Lowe, Suzenne Martinez and other people, criminal activity in Belize has not DECREASED; families are being destroyed, lives are ending and homicides are increasing. Children are afraid of going out at night. Belize is a dangerous place. We need to stop crime in Belize PERMANENTLY. Here are some ideas of how we could improve the situation:

1. Get police officers in every gang infested area
2. Get little kids off the street without hesitation
3. Put cameras on every street light post for evidence
4. send police officers undercover to infiltrate gangs and bring down leaders
5. we should officers in every high crime populated area patrolling day and night.

So I thought these rules could maybe help Belize be a better and safer place for locals and tourists.

Respectfully,
[student name]

Letter to the Prime Minister

Dear Hon. Dean Barrow:

I am [student name] and I’m [age]. I attend St. Andrews Anglican School and I’m in [class]. I have suggestions on how you can treat the crime problem in Belize:

1. We need more police officers, and the only way to get more officers is to educate the people who want to serve and protect their community. If we don’t educate the police officers, they won’t be able to get clues from the crime scene; they would be practically walking over potential clues that can lead to more clues.
2. We need to get people who are willing to do the job, not only for the money. We need people who love their job and won’t stop fighting crime until the problem is over. There have been a lot of crimes and only a few have been solved.
3. We need better jails that train and support prisoners.

I’m sure that there are many more ways to change Belize, but please consider these three.

Respectfully,
[student name]

Letter to the Prime Minister

Dear Hon. Dean Barrow:

My name is [student name] and I am [age]. I attend St. Andrew’s Anglican School in San Ignacio Town and I’m in [class]. I’ve been living in San Ignacio for 7 years now and I`ve seen many people being killed and lots of families cry for their departed ones. Crime has affected this town and we want it to stop. I have some suggestions to stop crime:

1. Maybe, a video camera can be placed on every lamp post. When someone commits a crime the video can then be checked so that the criminal may be caught.
2. Another suggestion is that a wall should be built around the border so outsiders would not be able to come into Belize illegally. This will reduce the amount of weapons in Belize from Guatemala.
3. The country should purchase a lie detector and then purchase other supplies. I know it is not cheap, but that's how Belize will become a safer place.

Thank you very much for helping to make Belize a better place. I look forward to a response.

Sincerely,
[student name]

Letter to the Prime Minister

Dear Hon. Dean Barrow:

My name is [student name] and I am [age]. I’m in [class] and I’m attending St. Andrew’s Anglican school. I’ve noticed that crime is getting worse in this country. Last year a thief jumped across my backyard fence running from the police but luckily they caught him. Since then, I don’t feel safe in my neighborhood and in my country. In order to help fix the crime situation, we need to get more:

1. police in San Ignacio town
2. honest and nice police officers
3. vehicles - so the police can reach the crime scene quicker.
4. money - to buy better vehicles
5. strict - bring back hanging, so other criminals could see what would happen to them.

I know you can get the job done.

Respectfully,
[student name]

Letter to the Prime Minister

Dear Hon. Dean Barrow:

My name is [student name] and I am [age]. I attend St. Andrew’s Anglican School. I am in [class]. I have noticed that the crime rate have been increasing in Belize. We have no limits in our country. I believe this is due to lack of discipline.

We have been seeing police smoking in their uniforms. They have also been charging people unfairly. We should be ashamed, especially with all the tourists visiting our country. Even their vehicles are in no condition to drive anymore. They have been charging people for blown indicator or brake lights while their vehicles are no better. No police are willing to sit in the front passenger seat because the front door is broken; if you cross a speed bump the door will fly open.

We need better service in our town. Some of the police even abuse drugs.I believe that is wrong because we the people look up to them. They should show a better example for us. I believe that you can help us. I am proud of you.

Sincerely,
[student name]

Reason for Discretion

The following set of submissions will not disclose individual students' names, ages or classes. As the content may be offensive to certain perpetrators with power. I believe the message must be heard and hopefully will reach the intended listener. 

CRIME IN SAN IGNACIO by Seleny Jimenez (6th Grader)

There is too much violence in my district. I am tired of men killing young girls like me. I get mad when I hear that girls are kidnapped on their way home. How can girls just disappear? Then parents get worried when night comes and their daughters haven’t come home.

Parents would then go and report that their child is missing. Then our police would start their investigation. They usually spend a lot of days looking for girls. The police will eventually find a dead body of a young girl. Then they’ll inform parents about their discovery.

After hearing the bad news, the parents will start crying with broken hearts. They raised their child from the day she was born and now she’s gone. Someone please stop the crime in San Ignacio. Please help young girls like me.

Break the Silence by Ramon Medina (7th Grader)

Don’t be afraid
Don’t be afraid to talk
Don’t be afraid to walk

Break the silence

Don’t be part of the problem
Be a part of the solution

There’s a place for all the criminals
And I don’t want you to go there
So turn your life around

Don’t you remember,
Seeing life through our eyes?
Weren’t you afraid?
Make a change and serve your time.

Crime in San Ignacio by Veronica Peresedova (7th Grader)

We demand-
no more killing,
We demand-
no more stealing,
We demand-
no more raping.

Stop the crime
in San Ignacio and Belize City,
Police officers-
Do your jobs,
Protect the innocent-
Not the guilty.
We need our government to help,
If you won`t...
we`ll do something `bout it.
`Cause we won`t stand here
and do nothing
While our friends
and neighbors
and family members
die and suffer.

We want PEACE!
We want HOPE!
We want JOY and LOVE
to flow about us.

Criminals, stop what you`re doing.
Get an education, get a job.
PLEASE, STOP THE CRIME,
I`m begging you to please stop crime.
If you change,
Life will be better for you
and for everyone else.
PLEASE!!!

Crimes Are Happening in Belize by Catherine Guerra (7th Grader)

Belize is our land,
We should be glad to be Belizean,
Many crimes are happening...
When they should be stopping.
A lot of people are dying
because of bad minds.

When we don't pay enough
attention to criminals,
They get away to rape again,
And we don't bother...
Fathers raping their daughters.

Now we shouldn't be here,
No, we won't have fear,
We should be heard clear,
Don't let them get away,
Lock them up in jail; in there-
Let them stay.

Stop the Violence by Unconfirmed (6th Grader)

Stop the violence
in Belize,
We want to live a life
of peace please,
As a child-
I don’t think this is the way
things should be,
We are yet kids;
We have a right to live,
But some who are smart
have used their intelligence wrongly,
Tricking kids
and making everyone sorry,
Some adults
just ignore their child’s wrongs,
Keeping secret
their child’s crimes,
Not reporting them in on time,
Preferring that they continue
crossing the line.

Crime is continuing to happen
Crime is killing our future,
Did you know?
Criminals use guns and knifes
to damage our lives.

So stop the violence and crime,
Our lives are worth the time.

Violence by Gabrielle Matus (5th Grader)

Violence is killing people
and it needs to be stopped,
But it won’t
be stopped on its own, 
We need to take a stand
at school and at home,
We need to help-
stop the crime
by speaking against the violence
in our time,
Women and children
are being raped
but no one seems to care,
People who need to be in jail
are not there…

So let’s get up
and help to break the silence,
and finally put in jail-
The people guilty of violence.

Violence in the Streets by Amy Pelayo (7th Grader)

Stop the killing-
if you are willing.

let there be
a new generation…
for our nation,

We are people…
not animals,
So care for everyone
both big and small.

Stop the murder- I say
because some day…
you won’t go any further.

And if you do murder someone,
You should go to jail
and never get bail
until God’s kingdom come.

The Crime in the City by Nelianne Rancharan (6th Grader)

The crime...
in the city...
is really bad,
but no one knows
or can remember
how it all started,
Belize use to be
a peaceful haven,
Were the children use to play
with nothing bad happening,
Parents use to say,
“Go and buy something to cook.”
The children use to come back
safe and sound,
But now in Belize
some children...
can’t be found,

If you live in Belize
and you buy at the store,
Please do not go by yourself,
I am giving you advice-
if you want to be safe,
Please be with someone older
who could look over your shoulder.

Crime and Violence by Zandra Gentle (7th Grader)

Crime and violence
are bad things to do,
Can’t you see?
We are trying
to make our community free,
Free from all the evil things
that are happening,
We can make a change
by uniting.

When we look left-
we see violence,
We look right we see-
violence there too,
Come together and join me
as I join you.

Since people started committing crimes,
this community hasn’t been safe for kids
We can’t even go outside,
If we do...
They’ll kill us.
We are not safe in this community,
For a long time
people have been saying,
“Stop the violence!”
Now its time to make it happen,
Join a hand in the world
and help change its direction.

Crime by Nicole Rochester (7th Grader)

Crime is painful,
Crime is sad,
Lots of people are committing crimes,
When seeking the truth
is the only way,
You are breaking up families-
everyday,
Our friends, mothers, sisters,
and brothers know-
Losing a loved one
isn’t any fun

Families are crying,
They want justice, peace, respect, and hope
So put away the gun
and help us in this fight,
You can make a change,
Do what’s right.

Chaos in Belize by Jamie Velasquez (5th Grader)

Chaos in Belize!
I am tired of all the killing and raping,
We should stop the killing,
We should fight for poor people

The people are tired of the crime,
A lot of people have lost their family
and friends to violence,
We need to stop the crime in Belize,
If the police catches a criminal
-straight to jail and no bail,
We need to do something
to stop...

the people from always crying.

Crime in Belize by Daniel Martinez (7th Grader)

Let’s stop all the crime,
Help each other,
Not hurt each other,
We need to make our community
larger and stronger,
We need to realize
that we have hidden potential;
that we can use to set our future
on the right path ,
We need to stop all the crime
before we run out of time
       
Crime is painful,
Crime is sad,
All our people are getting mad,
We are tired of all the violence,
Because our friends are getting killed,
Why do they target us?
We are the ones
that will change the world-
If given a chance
we’ll lead it to peace,
So please help us to save our futures
by making the violence cease
in my little country of Belize

If You Exists by an Anonymous Student

God, if you exist

(and I'm not sure if you do)

and if you can hear this

(and I don't know if you can)

I want to tell you
that I'm seeking the truth,

Show me if Jesus is your son
and the Savior of the world,
And if you tell me this,

I will trust Him as my savior
and follow Him as my lord.

Crime in the City by Elisha Martinez (6th Grader)

Killing, isn’t it enough,
Don`t you want the mothers
to stop crying,
Stealing people lives away,
Breaking into home,
Raping people,
people are afraid
to go out and have fun
We are not free
in are own country

We are a community,
we are a family,
We are brothers
and sisters,
we should live in peace,
But all we do is stay
away from it,
I guess this is happens
to every society,
We should become a better country,

We should become a better country.