By Belize Live News Staff: Attorney Richard “Dickie” Bradley says the state of emergency is the wrong tool for Belize’s crime problem, and the courts have already said so.
Speaking to Channel 5, Bradley said the Court of Appeal has examined the law on states of emergency thoroughly.
“They’re saying that you can’t take a state of emergency and use it as a crime fighting tool,” he said.
According to Bradley, the Constitution reserves emergency powers for disasters and crises that shut down daily life.
“A state of emergency is for earthquake, hurricane, war and insurgency, where daily life is disrupted to a state where you can’t go to the shop,” he said.
He questioned government’s motives, calling the SOE a pause that government knows will not solve anything.
“It’s a pause so you can give me a chance. A chance for what, to go talk to Bukele?” he said, a jab at National Security Minister Michel Chebat’s plan to visit El Salvador to study its crime crackdown.
Bradley said the real answers lie elsewhere.
“The solution lies in the social and economic problems, in family problems, and in the lack of church,” he said.
The 30 day state of emergency is in effect for Southside Belize City and parts of the Belize and Cayo Districts.
