Posted: Wednesday, May 21, 2025. 6:47 am CST.
By Horace Palacio: Spoonaz Reggae Café is no stranger to hard work. But this past week, they’ve been battling something far tougher than a busy lunch rush: a public shaming campaign that has taken social media by storm.
It all started when Allaire McDougall, a mentally ill woman who had been living in Belize after years in the U.S., was charged for not paying a $48 bill. When the story broke, the nation erupted. How could anyone—much less a beloved Belize City café—call the police over $48?
But as is often the case, the full story didn’t go viral.
After learning about McDougall’s condition, Spoonaz dropped the charges. They issued an honest, humble apology. They admitted they didn’t know. They admitted they could have handled it better. They acknowledged her service as a nurse—though her brother later clarified she never was one—and wished her well.
Still, they’ve been dragged relentlessly online. Threats. One-star reviews. Boycott campaigns.
And now, the backlash is raising bigger questions: How far is too far? When does justice turn into bullying?
Attorney Norman Rodriguez, who followed the court process closely, explained that the charges were withdrawn with the blessing of both the complainant and the police. There was no legal fight. There was no cover-up.
Even more revealing is McDougall’s tragic history, shared by her brother Albert: diagnosed with severe mental illness, bouncing between homes in Cayo and the south, and once charged in the U.S. for attempting to drown her 8-year-old son. “She needs help, not hate,” he said.
So now the question falls to us: Do we accept Spoonaz’s apology and focus on systemic reforms—better mental health support, social safety nets, humane alternatives to criminal charges—or do we keep throwing stones at the people who stepped up and said, “We were wrong”?
Spoonaz messed up. But they made it right.
Isn’t that the kind of accountability we say we want?
The views expressed in this article are those of the author, Horace Palacio, and do not necessarily reflect the views or editorial stance of Breaking Belize News.
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The post Spoonaz under fire: Fair criticism or digital mob? appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Spoonaz Reggae Café is no stranger to hard work. But this past week, they’ve been battling something far tougher than a busy lunch rush: a public shaming campaign that has taken social media by storm.
The post Spoonaz under fire: Fair criticism or digital mob? appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
