By Belize Live News Staff: Prime Minister John Briceño has introduced a bold constitutional amendment that could reshape how Belize prosecutes violent crime. Tabled today in the National Assembly, the proposed legislation would insert Section 94A into the Constitution to establish a specialized Gun and Gang Court—a move aimed at accelerating justice in the country’s most serious criminal cases.
The court would operate as a hybrid institution, allowing magistrates to exercise the powers of High Court judges. This legal innovation, Briceño says, is designed to confront the growing threats posed by gang activity and illegal firearms with faster, more focused judicial proceedings.
Belize’s current judicial system has struggled to keep pace with the complexity and volume of violent crime cases. Delays in trials and backlogged dockets have eroded public trust and slowed justice for victims. The new court aims to address this by channeling gun and gang cases into a dedicated legal mechanism with enhanced authority.
While some observers may raise concerns about concentrated judicial powers or potential overreach, Briceño emphasized that judicial independence will be preserved, even as the Constitution is updated to meet today’s realities. “This is about making our system more responsive—not compromising its integrity,” he said.
The amendment represents one of the most significant proposed changes to Belize’s constitutional law in recent years. It signals a government willing to recalibrate legal norms in pursuit of security, but also opens the door to debate about checks, balances, and the limits of expedited justice.
