AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Talk Belize Chat Area What is a crime

I heard that was what the chamber meetings were like anyway (minus the fatties!) My rep on the island will not even attend anymore - says it is a bunch of Gringo expats looking for yet another excuse to get drunk. This is not my personal opinion - just related to me.

While I do not attend all of the meetings, I think that view of the ACCOC is way off base. First, don't tell the fair number of Belizeans that do attend EVERY MEETING that you are lumping them into the Gringo Expat group. Our manager Jules Escalante is a Board Member and is one of many Belizeans that are involved with the Chamber.
And I don't drink, so it's not an excuse for me to get drunk. Personally, I've never seen anyone drunk at our meetings. Granted, we might not always keep our focus like we should, but about 98% of the time, the Chamber is trying to help this tiny island, and it's residents. I can also tell you that MANY projects aren't accepted, as they don't really affect the local businesses. But Tom and the board do an amazing job of ferreting out the ideas that might not be the best projects, and they work tirelessly to reduce crime, to reduce the awful traffic problem, to reduce trash, to help the local children when possible, and the list goes on.
I for one, support the Chamber and their efforts.

Ibanole-So do you or do you not use illegal drugs?

Pedro1,
I do not. I can't say I never have, but it's been over 20 years.
Vicki

So do you agree with the Chambers view of soft and hard drugs and their attitudes on what is a crime and what is not? for example is it the same to smoke pot as it is to drink alcohol on the street? Viewpoints are needed

Pedro you are really hung up on taking notes about who in town takes which drugs. Aren't you in fact a drunk? Is alcohol a drug in your book? It is on the law books of Belize. It is a controlled substance. Word has it that you have committed acts which are unlawful in Belize like drinking alcohol in the street and in motor vehicles, to mention a couple. You may be younger than Tom V (dolphin) but you look 20 years older than he does. Would this be due to your drug of choice and the way you often commit crimes while intoxicated? I also prefer alcohol to other drugs so I'm not being overly critical of your choice.

Good lord-I do not and have never owned a motorised vehicle in Belize -What crimes have I committed -be very careful here-I have no idea who you are but you know who I am(possibly)-remeber all I am talking and writing about the laws of belize which i did not write but do follow-Do you believe various laws of Belize should be disregarded.

I never said you owned a motor vehicle, but you have been in one while it was operated on public streets while drinking booze or beer, come on be honest. It is also a crime (misdemeanor I probably) for you to stroll with a drink and/or while intoxicated through the public town areas. But you do and so do lots of other locals and visitors. Big deal, right? But wait, you are committing an unlawful act under the laws of Belize. You ask do I believe various laws of Belize should be disregarded. My answer is this: I belive various laws of Belize ARE disregarded, both to the benefit of some, and to the detriment of others. You and I and many others live on both sides of that fence depending upon the day and circumstance, and you know it. I cannot respond to the shoulds or should nots when the laws are blatently enforced with such disparity. Why should I get up in arms that some gringo is tripping on Ecstacy or cocaine in the privacy of his own abode while you and the crack heads are out in public doing your particular choice of obnoxious and possibly illegal behavior? If you or some crackhead harass me on the street I don't care if you are drunk, stoned, or just cranky, it is annoying and a deterernt to my enjoyment. It happens every day, and you and I and the crackheads and the tourists may all be engaged in this behavior albeit breaking different laws while doing so, and using different chemicals in the process. Example - a laboror resident of San Pedro appears to be publicly intoxicated. One half block down the sandy street in the same full view of police personnel, you or a visiting tourist is also publicly intoxicated, same thing, drunk and obviously so. Let's say a verbal confrontation takes place between you and some tourist while you're both drunk. The laboror and another laboror are also in the process of fighting. The laborors will be the ones inspected and hasseled by the police instead of you or the tourist 99.9% of each occurence of the above scenario. So what is your point about law enforcement? We both seem to agree it is not equally dished out to all people. But you benefit from this dilemma as much as the cocaine snortin' expats or pillars of society.

So cocaine sholud be allowed?

...since we're nit-picking here, I don't believe Jock Dawson claimed that you "owned a motor vehicle in Belize" Pedro1. What was being questioned/inferred was whether you have ever engaged in the consumption of an alcoholic beverage while IN a motor vehicle???

Me, "yes" so don't bother asking.

With repect to "laws being disregarded," Pedro1, you paint it as a very black and white issue. All laws being equal. Jaywalking? The 15mph speed limit in town??? Or lets examine some LAWS on the books say (for the sake of choosing any old country) the UK: "London hackney carriages (cabs) must carry a bale of hay and a sack of oats." Hmmmmm... makes sense. If ever I find myself living in the UK employed as a London cabbie, I will most certainly respect that law. Oh wait, that was repealed in 1976, whew!!! (but man, those hayless/oatless 1975 cab drivers deserved to have the book thrown at 'em!!!)

For what it's worth, ChrisW hit the nail on the head above. It's about economics and power. Take a look at the population in any prison in any country and that becomes painfully clear.