Death Penalty Coming Back to Belize!!

The House of Representatives met in Belmopan; today’s sitting was one of the shortest concluding before one o’clock. With the country’s murder toll at forty nine within five months of the year, a series of controversial measures and constitutional amendments were introduced that are sure to bring debate not only from across the floor, but from local and foreign entities.  The amendment to the Crime Control and Criminal Justice Bill intends to zone in on gang related activities and increase penalties for related crimes. But it’s the amendments to the Belize Constitution that may bring both praise and fury from the public, human rights organizations and the church.  Prime Minister Dean Barrow intends to bring back the death penalty with the Belize Constitution (Eight Amendment) Bill 2011.