BCCI calls on government to address corruption

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By BBN Staff: The decapitation of Pastor Llewelyn Lucas and the revelation that his accused killer William Mason was very well connected to political figures and likely facilitated by some of them has caused concern about corruption and now the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) is calling on the government to address the issue.

The BCCI, in a press release sent out this morning, called on the government to give serious consideration to the BCCI’s Business Sustainability Agenda.

“The Government must implement  policies and enforce laws that will combat systemic corruption and enhance citizen safety, and the  entire community must hold leaders accountable for their actions and inactions in implementing,  upholding and enforcing such laws,” the Chamber said.

“The decapitating of Pastor Llewellyn Lucas is the most heinous crime Belize has seen in recent  history. The reported findings surrounding this case, including extortion and the ability to obtain a  Belizean birth certificate illegally (or “outside of the normal process”) demonstrate corruption at  the highest levels and the continued deterioration of our country,” it added.

The Chamber also noted the many cases of acquittals based on technicalities, resulting in an “embarrassingly low conviction rate”, a sustained high criminal rate, and reinforcing the argument  for the need to improve law enforcement, implement policies that will combat corruption, and  enforce those policies that are already on our statute books. “Citizen safety must always be a priority  in a well-functioning society, and the cold-blooded beheading of one of our fellow citizens along  with subsequent developments related to the case are yet more evidence of the need for serious  police reform,” the BCCI said.

“Belize must do better. The survival of our economy demands better. The upholding of our rights as  citizens not to become victims of violent crime demands better. It is our responsibility as Belizeans  to put aside political loyalties and put Belize first,” the Chamber added.

 

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