By Belize Live News Staff: A 13-year-old boy, who was remanded at the Belize Central Prison as part of a state of emergency (SOE) sweep in June, was granted bail by the Belize High Court on Monday. The child’s case has sparked widespread concern over the treatment of minors in the justice system and the disregard for their constitutional rights.
Attorney Dickie Bradley, who represented the minor, revealed disturbing details about the boy’s incarceration. According to Bradley, the child was held in “the hole,” a dungeon-like cell at the prison described as unfit for any human, let alone a minor. He further criticized the authorities for issuing vague charges, including serious accusations like murder, without any supporting evidence.
Bradley highlighted how the SOE tribunal, chaired by a lawyer and two former police commissioners, discharged the child of the allegations weeks before the SOE expired. Yet, the boy remained in custody. After hearing both sides, the High Court judge granted bail, imposing strict conditions, mindful of the minor’s rights and circumstances.
Bradley condemned the ordeal as a failure of the justice system to balance punishment with the protection of children’s rights. “Our society lacks resources to uplift and inspire young people,” Bradley said, adding that the child now has a chance to turn his life around but must remain on the right path.
