National Student Union calls for greater security measures on and around school campuses following stabbing death of Belmopan youth

Published by BBNTEAM at August 18, 2022

Tags

Posted: Thursday, August 18, 2022. 11:00 am CST.

By Benjamin Flowers: The National Student Union of Belize (NSUB) is demanding greater security measures on and around University of Belize (UB) campuses following the stabbing death of 18-year-old Leroy Cus.

Cus was found dead on the central walkway in Belmopan between St Ann Primary School and the Belmopan branch of James Brodie and Company Limited around 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday. In the aftermath of his death, the NSUB stresses that many students have been robbed either en route to or leaving UB campuses in both Belize City and Belmopan, which has tainted the reputation of UB.

The union says that students no longer feel safe attending classes in person, and recommended a number of suggestions that require collaboration between the school administration, the Belize Police Department, and the community at large.

These recommendations include: Enlarge the borders of UB territory, at both campuses, especially in the Independence Park neighborhood (Belmopan Campus); increasing surveillance and monitoring systems in and around Independence Park; increasing the number of live security guards and police off-campus; increasing routes and frequencies of university shuttles.

“Rebuild accountability. Improve transparency and demonstrate accountable police policies. Designate a new committee, which should include at least two students from both campuses, a police officer, and members of the community, to address the serious violence and security issues in and around our campuses. UB should establish and release quantifiable goals for its new safety measures,” the NSUB said.

The union also urged all stakeholders to develop a long-term plan to tackle violence that focuses on the social and economic roots of crime. The NSUB also encouraged the administration of UB to further engage with both cities and the local communities to promote quantifiable long-term plans to mitigate criminal activities, particularly those targeting University students, staff, and faculty members.

Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Belize ~ We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages. Your content is delivered instantly to thousands of users in Belize and abroad! Contact us at mаrkеtіng@brеаkіngbеlіzеnеwѕ.соm or call us at 501-612-0315.