Posted: Wednesday, July 16, 2025. 12:32 pm CST.
OPINION | By Horace Palacio: Let’s be clear: Belize is facing a serious crime crisis. But the Briceño administration’s answer — the 13th Amendment to the Constitution — is not the solution. It’s a political power grab dressed up as national security policy. We cannot legislate our way out of lawlessness by eroding the very laws that protect us.
The amendment proposes to expand emergency powers, allowing the government to declare “special areas” where constitutional rights can be suspended. These zones would be under the full control of the state, with vague justifications and no clear oversight. The government claims this is necessary due to “conflicting court rulings” and rising gang violence. But let’s be honest — this isn’t about clarity, it’s about control.
The Constitution is designed to limit the reach of government, not enable its overreach. If this amendment passes, the state will have the legal cover to detain citizens indefinitely, restrict their movement, and suppress dissent — all under the guise of security.
Let’s not forget the last time states of emergency were declared. Hundreds of young men, mostly poor and marginalized, were locked away without trial, without charge, and in many cases, without evidence. Did crime disappear? No. The cycle repeated itself, because this approach does not address the root of the problem.
You can’t militarize your way out of broken communities. Belize’s crime problem is the result of long-standing social inequities — lack of jobs, broken schools, inadequate housing, and a failing justice system. Instead of declaring “special areas” to strip rights, why not declare a national emergency on education, poverty, and youth unemployment?
The government is quick to criminalize poverty but slow to invest in prevention. If we truly want public safety, we need mentorship programs, trauma support, after-school activities, and real pathways out of gang life. That is where the battle against crime must be fought — not in makeshift courts or holding cells.
This amendment would not only give politicians unchecked power, it would validate previous abuses of it. The bill even seeks to retroactively justify prior states of emergency — a red flag in any democracy. If this passes, what stops any future government from using the same law to target political opponents, silence critics, or suppress protests?
A strong democracy does not sacrifice rights to feel safe — it strengthens institutions so justice works for everyone. We must resist the temptation to trade liberty for the illusion of control. Once rights are gone, they rarely come back.
Belizeans are angry — and rightfully so. But anger cannot be manipulated into consent for authoritarianism. The real fight isn’t just against crime — it’s for democracy, fairness, and accountability. This bill does not bring us closer to justice. It moves us further from it.
Let us not fight violence with silence. Speak out. Push back. Demand solutions that empower people, not imprison them. The 13th Amendment isn’t the fix — it’s the fracture.
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The post The 13th Amendment won’t fix crime — It will break Belize’s democracy appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Wednesday, July 16, 2025. 12:32 pm CST. OPINION | By Horace Palacio: Let’s be clear: Belize is facing a serious crime crisis. But the Briceño
The post The 13th Amendment won’t fix crime — It will break Belize’s democracy appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
