5 October 2008 - BelizeBlog.com - In what is seen as a trial balloon, the Government of Belize is making a move to introduce a forced National I.D. system as part of new Anti Crime legislation being promoted by the U.S.A. and the British Governments. Both foreign governments have helped formulate a new Crime Control Council Plan chaired by a Belize Government hired lawyer Mr. Michael Young.
In its coverage the national newspaper Amandala cites the Plan Belize thus:
"Crime has become the main topic of
the national discussion in recent months, mainly because all Belizeans
are affected by it, whether directly or indirectly.
Today, the Ministry of National
Security and the Crime Control Council presented their plan for
tackling the ever-growing problem, which they said could not be done
without the active participation of all Belizeans."
Hidden in the 54 page text of the Plan Belize which to date has not been supplied to international media in electronic form is the keystone element - a forced national I.D. card system for Belize.
"In the long-term, the CCC's plan would include strengthening the Police Department and criminal justice system, including the eye-opening suggestion that all Belizeans would be made to register with Social Security, young and old, in order to assist with the development of a national criminal records and statistics unit coordinated by the police.
Hidden in the 54 page text of the Plan Belize which to date has not been supplied to international media in electronic form is the keystone element - a forced national I.D. card system for Belize.
"In the long-term, the CCC's plan would include strengthening the Police Department and criminal justice system, including the eye-opening suggestion that all Belizeans would be made to register with Social Security, young and old, in order to assist with the development of a national criminal records and statistics unit coordinated by the police.
"Asked to clarify whether not having
a Social Security card would be considered an offense, Young said he
didn't think so, envisioning offenders as paying a fine and being given
the opportunity to comply."
Some independent journalists have now questioned how not having an I.D. card will not be an offense but will require "offenders" to be fined and or confined for not carrying the card.
In a related development, an expert from Jamaica imported to help the Belize Government address crimes by crooks and hoodlums has finally submitted his long-delayed report for a solution to Belize's escalating crime problems. Mr. Harold Crooks has submitted his report to government and it will be released in November after it is reviewed and sanitised by the Belize Government.
Some independent journalists have now questioned how not having an I.D. card will not be an offense but will require "offenders" to be fined and or confined for not carrying the card.
In a related development, an expert from Jamaica imported to help the Belize Government address crimes by crooks and hoodlums has finally submitted his long-delayed report for a solution to Belize's escalating crime problems. Mr. Harold Crooks has submitted his report to government and it will be released in November after it is reviewed and sanitised by the Belize Government.
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