Ross Kemp On Gangs: Belize
Belize is the smallest country in the whole of the Americas with a population of just over 300,000, but since becoming a major transit point for cocaine trafficked from Colombia to the US in the late 1980s, it’s developed a serious gang problem and become one of the most dangerous places on the planet.
Until recently, guns and cocaine were practically unheard of in Belize. Today the country is facing a massive crack cocaine problem, there are hundreds of semi-automatic weapons in the hands of gangs and the country has a per capita murder rate 5 times higher than the US, 98% of it gang-related.
Ross meets reformed gangsters who introduce him to the dangerous streets of Belize City and the gangs that control them. Ross gets to see a fraction of the weapons that make this city so violent, including grenades and high explosives, the new weapon of choice for the dozens of gangs which
control Belize City.
Ross teams up with the police as they try to tackle the problem that has its epicentre in the few square miles of the notorious Southside of Belize City. He takes part in a dawn raid but ends up seeing the other tragic side of Belize’s gang story, meeting gang members crippled for life despite being barely out of their teens.
Belize’s Coastguards consist mainly of captured Columbian smugglers boats that are reconditioned and then used to protect the miles of coastline. Ross joins the armed guards as they intercept and search suspect vessels, and sees captured planes used by the cartels to ferry drugs through Belize.
Finally his journey leads him to the George Street Crew, the most feared gang in the city and the local enforcers for the Mexican and Colombian drug cartels. In 2004 the gang’s leader was sentenced to 33 years in a Miami prison for smuggling more than 10 tonnes of cocaine into the US. Ross meets Jason Brown, the current leader of George Street, along with a collection of his lieutenants. The head of the country’s gang unit warns Ross that each of the men he meets will have committed at least one murder. But as Ross wins the trust of the gang’s leader, he is given an insight into the reality of gang life that poses as many questions as it gives answers.
Quotes
“Belize used to be a British colony; we cut down all the teak wood and then gave it back to them. There’s a British base there used for jungle training, but the soldiers aren’t allowed into Belize City because it’s said to be too dangerous”.
“Belize is a very small country with a lot of drugs and a lot of guns on the streets. It’s infested by gangs. Gangs are a cultural thing. Drug dealers use gangs for the safe passage of their drugs and they pay them in drugs and weapons”.
“Belize was the first place I was ever given a hand grenade by a gang member”.
“In Belize City I met one gang who are incredibly violent, they’re all killers. I’m not talking about the odd hit, I’m talking about killing ten to 15 people, shooting children. If a child’s in the way they will shoot through the child to get to the target. And they talk about being big and hard, but they can’t even cross the road to get a beer unless they have a bodyguard. They’ve effectively put themselves in a prison. That upsets me”.
Ross Kemp On Gangs, Monday 15th September only on Sky1 and Sky1 HD.
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sad but true…
You should clarify that Belize City is only one part of Belize. You are painting a horrible and unrealistic picture of the entire country. There is much more to Belize than Belize City.
Gangs and drugs and out of control in Belize city because the politicians protect them and the present government is doing nothing to combat this epidemic.
However Belize is not only made up of Belize City, there are other disctricts that are beautiful and peaceful and where people live in harmony.
Belize is faced with drug and gang problem.You come here and getting half the picture is worse a problem.George St.never had a BOSS, as to my knowledge you never set foot in the red that is George Street.I safely say that you are misguided by the police and people who has knowledge of them selves and not of what really goes on through “G” street.
I was very recently out in Belize, and spent the majority of that time in and around Belize City. We covered most of the city and i did not feel in danger, unlike many other cites including in the UK. Belize is a developing country and hopefuly now heading in the right direction, but it has a long way to go! Many of the problems the country has is down to a series of unfortunate events (natural disasters) and massive corruption.
Ross is a joker…. tryin to sell books…
Belize was, prior to the mid-1980s, a “tranquil haven of democracy”. I am listening to our local radio right now, and Belizeans are calling in one after the other to complain about a foreigner having the audacity to portray our country in such a negative light.
As a resident of Southside Belize, however, I would opine that Mr. Kemp is not too far off the mark. We live in a society where we fear for our children’s lives every day. When they go out at night, we anxiously wait up until they come home. When they go out in the day, we make telephone checks to ensure that they are okay.
This is a beautiful and exotic country. There are many, many, wonderful people and places to visit. But the truth is, the majority suffer for the sins of the few.
Belizeans need to wake up and smell the coffee and get up and demonstrate against the violence and corruption and demand that there be change. I personally cannot understand how the police can take a foreign journalist to visit with all the hardened gang members and not have the ability to arrest them.
Something wrong there.
While as Belizeans we can certainly not hide from the fact that gangs and violence exist in our country, primarily in Belize City, I believe Mr. Ross went too far in exaggerating the facts. Hell after I read the article I was wondering if Mr. Ross was talking about some city named Belize that existed in the UK. While his report contains some truth about the existence of many weapons on our streets it is far from reality when it attempts to declare that gangs is a cultural thing and that the so called men he met are murderers. We do not have hardened gang members in Belize sir, what we have are hardened cowards who call upon teenagers to carry out senseless murders over simple arguments not drugs, which by the way are committed sporadically. Hell as far as I am concern the drug trade does not even involve the so called gang members but rather involves the rich and wealthy folks in our society. Come on Ross Kemp…get real mate. I now see why you’re referred to as Rass Kemp in the streets of Belize City.
I grew up on South Side. I was there when the parents right to correct a child was taken away by misinformed wanna be’s like Ross. Belize is almost 9,000 square miles – NOT ONE STREET of corrupted youths. Walk the streets of London Ross. You will find a lot of material to write a book you can sell for L99.00 and not L9.99. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN…… A H.
Don’t worry we will take back our city. People like you just get in the way.
By the way your knowledge of Geography is bad. Belize is not the smallest country in the Americas. Again, educate yourself properly before writing crap. Since you claim to know so much I call on interpol to pick you up for questioning…
I think you are totally misleading the people about Belize, i am a proud BELIZEAN and there is nothing like what you are saying is right. am not sure what you are trying to do to our country by painting a bad image to it. In every country there are bad eggs but not all even your country has the most crime at home and abroad in this world and no one talks about it. I recommend that you get your statistics right before you post anything on the internet.
I think this article is a slap in the face of all belizean living home and abroad. I’m a belizean- american who visits belize regularly, for the past 2 years i’ve organized a youth basketball program for kids on the southside of belize ages 13-19, as a matter of fact a few live on George Street, and i’ve sat down with them personally and 75% of what you are talking about doesn’t exist in their neighborhood, they live there, you were just passing thru(who feels it know it). Crime is worldwire, and belize city population is about 60,000 people and i would say about 1000 people if that many live on george street from start to end, and if these people were getting killed the way you have described it, everyone in that area would be dead. i think the government of belize should considering suing you for reporting false informtion about its country.
I need to question his methodology and decides if it subjective rather objective. How valid was the methodolgy employed? Is this article based on Jason Brown’s comment alone? Please note that violence occurs across a wide range of cultures. It is also a global issue. Belize is not alone in this. In the Western world violence becomes more visible and the matter of media coverage coupled with public perception are factors that need to be examined more closely.
This is waaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy OVER EXAGGERATED and full of bs…some parts are true, but that’s not how it ALL IS!!!!!!!
I live on George Street and you don’t know what the hell you are talking about Rass Kemp. You are giving our beautiful country bad press.
and your publisher and PR people are doing a good at trying to sell more books. I hope u realize that when you make books about these A.Holes, you help to make the problem worst. Why didn’t you come to the country and help the police with some resources to help aleviate the problem, and them write a book about how you made a difference in one small country in the world? Instead you come and blow the situation way out of proportions. Plus you Americans can be blamed too, with your Human rights rubbish when our little country speaks about killing (hanging, executing) them. They don’t bring soluctions, but they quickly come down to defend the killers from being sent to hell. How about the dead and their families.
After reading a few comments on Kemp’s “Gangs in Belize”, I have noticed that we Belizeans are quick to instinctively defend the reputation of our country.
I will agree that as a Belizean, from Belize City, his story is a bit exaggerated but at the same time we cannot DENY the corruption and the breed of viciousness evolving from our locals and our politicians regardless of it being drugs or just local vengeance.
Compared to how Belize was a few years ago, its present is “BAD”! I would suggest to our current government, rather than occupying your time and resources victimizing your opposition, Minister of National Security needs to devise an emergency plan that will encourage the reduction of these crimes within our country.
We voted for a change! We did not want to vote for a government who would step into governance with the same intellect with which our “street people” possess.
We are governed by people who have that same vicious mind set and expect that we the Belizean people, who are under your umbrella, not to have a dribbling effect? An effect that would cause us to justify our differences thru means of the violent demise of our neighbors, our friends, our families, our women…This is a plea to PM Dean Barrow and my UDP government – We would love a more peaceful Belize!
In addition, it is also important for us Belizeans to assume part of the blame for Belize’s violent reputation. We are a society that feeds at the hands of our politicians, which submits to the “stipend” dangling from a string to shut our mouths.
We need to be a society that will respect our ideals. Educate our young ones, remind the adults and learn from the elders what Belize was once like when most people knew what their ideals were; what their principles were. A time when our ideals were defined and our differences were harmoniously settled.
Let’s take ourselves out the war-mode that the rest of the world is in. Let’s not wave guns in the streets as though it’s made of plastic. Let’s not throw grenades in our September celebrations. Let’s not hammer our women in their heads to have sex. Let’s not shot our shop keeper’s for a $100 in the register. Let’s not destroy the innocence of Belize’s future – our children.
Somehow the crime number adds up each and every single day, and as the number gets higher, the probability that crime would be tapping at your shoulder is extremely higher. Kemp may be wrong in some of the things he has said…true…but Kemp is very close about the degree of the violence rising in our “little” country Belize.
Well said. Half the reason we are in this mess is because Musa and the rest of them acted like it wasnt happening for so many years, at the same time secretly using these young boys to do their nasty business for him. It should be the politicians and “businessmen” facing the questions not some TV guy
Well, indeed we cannot hide from the violence or the grenade stuff. of course not, BELIZE is what it is today, so, the guy got some of his stuff mixed up, but there is reality in it. For instance I dont live in the City, but where i live, g every corner u walk, there is a joint selling CRACK OR WEED. These guys are not scared of the police or the law. Justice serves no purpose in BELIZE. Police, do the same things as the gangs, get paid, money, money, money. But then again….beyound the crucial side of it all, Mrs. Kemp, you forgot, belize is not made up of BELIZE CITY. U MESSING UP MY BEAUTIFUL one COUNTRY, to sell a bloody book. In every country there is crime……..FOR INSTANCE am here in London living for a period of time, in a so called residential area, every half an hour, or less u hear syrenes passing by, every morning u read the papers,”someone got stab” yeah in LONDON, u should go write about that. HMM just the other day they found a 9 year old wt gun in his home, yeah here in LONDON. In my Country, Belize as much as the bad things u said about it, half of it is screwed up, because u based your hypothesis on one street an one City, “BELIZE CITY”. An whoever took u around how did he knew all the joints? How did u get to talk to leaders of the gangs….. jajaja, “unbelievable” these are just guys looking for international attention from a white man, so how did u bribe them ;yeah did u say,,,,,ur gonna be on internation T.V. am a white man an am gonna make that happen?” senseless, ur theory is so wrong about BELIZE. u should be sue indeed, for dooming our reputation, cus we are the people who make up BELIZE, an we strive daily to make a difference in our Country, but all to blame is not on u MR.Ross, its on our GOVERNMENT to allow a white man as uself to do such uniform research in my home land, shame on them, much less on ur book.
if dah nuh suh…dah neyly suh…
In 1984 when the US initiated it’s “New Drug Policy” the so-called war on drugs which featured the likes of Ronald Reagan, Oliver North, Enrique Blandone, Ricky Ross, Curl Thompson and many others you never heard of, Belize and the vast masjority of Belizeans did not know what cocaine was. However, using their trade influence and the gullibility of a political party hungry for their first taste of power, The U.S, coerced the “New Government” to spray marijuana fields and as soon as that business was done, in December 1984, Belizeans were given the worst gift any body could get for Christmas. Plane loads of cocaine and the violence and misery that followed. Check your stats Jack!!! Iran-Contra- You created the mess as usual- now you are profiting once more from the misery you wrath upon us. Who is in power in Belize again?????? The more things change, the more they get worse!!!
Dear Mr. Kemp!
You have painted a very bad image of my country F*** You! Belize City does not make up the entire country, so it really astounds me that you would make such comments. Next time if you ever come back to Belize make sure you see the real Belize not just a small piece of it!
We need to do something about crime yes.Belizeans, thou our government is trying to assess the problem,i personally would like them to consider a law before they pass it because it may help in one way and do us bad in the other.Act swiftly not just because you don’t want the people to say you’re doing nothing about the problem but also in a way that won’t have a negative impact on some people and things in life.No matter who is in government,i think we need to get a lot of financial aid from other countries and put it to good use.Raising the pay scale for everyone,paying our government workers well may help in some of the corruption.Investing in our people and our youths,making real athletes of our youths and all sports participants getting them recognized internationally.PEOPLE OF BELIZE LET NOT THIS “A” HOLE GET YOU OFF.WE ARE GONNA ALWAYS BE THE BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD,BLESSED AND PROTECTED BY THE ONE TRUE GOD.
This is the MOST ridiculous journalistic story about Belize. It is sad to see a British journalist come to a British country to slander a little jewel. Ross should make it clear Belize City do have gang activities but ONLY in Belize City. Belize is divided by 6 districts and all are peaceful. Ross should take a ride to Toledo and he will be amazed at the beauty, peaceful and tranquil Southern Belize. Ross, how would you react if we say London is being overrun by gang violence and one of the MOST dangerous cities in the world? Do your research before degrading a tiny country. Rather than trying to make millions of dollars from a despicable story, why do you do a piece about the laid back towns and communities of Belize? SHAME ON YOU.
We cannot hide from the reality in our country, especially Belize City. Our youths have become the victims of neglect from their families, their communities, and our government. Sad to say, they have also fallen victims of the foreign press. We cannot blame a foreigner ‘rass Kemp’ for exploiting the opportunity to intrude in the domestic affairs of our country and blow our weaknesses out of proportion into our face. Besides, you must know by now that his audience ‘the ill’ only expects exaggeration and like the ‘high’ from a stick of weed which he must have smoked while hanging in the hood, they crave for that thrill effect which eventually dies down, and when they sober up, they don’t even believe half of what he says in his book. So Belizeans, no need to get uptight. Crime and violence is a global issue. In fact, It has taken nations in its entirety, unlike us where it is just secluded to a few streets and small areas in the city. Let us be strong and take initiatives in helping to rescue our youths in this ailing situation. Life will be better for all!! Kemp will never have a reason to come.
everywhere in countries have gangs but this guy is painting a very wrong picture belize city is one part we have many places that are peaceful and quite. he’s just trying to sell his damn videos and books. u should try to do a piece in your own country fool
Mr. Rass the queen should send u back to do a full documentry of our Jewel Belize (den u wah get d sense)your comments are very misleading but i wish u will waste your money on publishing and b on d worst sellers list! go back so!
Kindly note that this individual needs to come back to Belize and have a talk with individuals from around this beautiful Jewel of ours. I will not deny the fact that we do have gangs and drugs on our streets but to enlighten this fool about life here in Belize, nobody absolutely nobody lives in fear and we are as safe as his next door county. So Mr. Ross with due respect get your shit together about Belize and if ever you come back We will show you a side of Belize you need to see you dog ass individual. Belize has its problems people but not the way its being portrayed by this dumb ass. Peace out
I am a Canadian that spent 10 years in the Cayman Islands and now 8 years in Belize.
Every city I have ever been in in Canada, the USA and the UK are way more dangerous than Belize.
The Cayman Islands are way more dangerous than Belize is.
There is no comparision…and Cayman is the wealthiest country in the Caribbean. Rape, Robbery and gang realated crimes are out of control there…
Ross, try keeping a reality check on your Drama…
or is putting your story in context too boring?
Well my Belizean poeple let us accept the reality, Belize City is a mess, dangerous like hell; I agree on that but the rest of the country is beautiful and very peaceful. In this other districts one could walk any time at time without fear.
Ross you ARE FULL OF BULL ****! its people like you that destroy small developing countries like us, i hope that when you do another documentary on gangs in some other country that show a footage of you been shot at fool!
The documentary is talking about a part of the Southside of Belize City. This is not the entire City and most certainly not the entire country of Belize. Belize still remains one of the most peaceful places to raise children and also a “FREE COUNTRY”. I do agree that the government needs to work hard on the Southside of the city to combat the serious gang problem they have on that side. Belize “Land of the Free”.
Belize was and still is a heaven, Belize City is only a part of this country.Maybe you should write about the influx of crminal deportees to Belize’s and its effect on Belize’s society.
There are great amount of criminals who were nurtured in the ghettos of America who find their way back to Belize and contaiminate the our youths. Nothing can compare to the violence in American cities i.e Newark, NJ.
GET YOU FACTS TOGETHER A** H****!! YOU NEEDED A TOUR GUIDE TO TEACH YOU ABOUT THE MESS THAT YOUR COUNTRY DID TO BELIZE. DESPITE THAT BELIZE IS STILL TODAY A MEMBER OF THE COMMON WEALTH COUNTRIES. READ AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND GEOLOGY, HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY BEFORE YOU WRITE WHAT YOU HAD JUST POSTED. I HOPE THE MONEY YOU MAKE ON THIS BOOK/VIDEO, WOULD MAKE YOU LIVE A LITTLE LONGER. I DON’T THINK THAT YOU MADE ENOUGH RESEARCH BEFORE YOU WONDER AROUND THE STREETS OF BELIZE. YOU HAD TO BRIBE SOMEONE TO GET SUCH VIDEO CLIP, WHY DON’T YOU TURN IN ALL THE NAMES OF THE PEOPLE WHO YOU GOT INVOLVED IN THIS CLIP SO THAT WE CAN START TO TAKE CARE OF THIS MESS!! A S S H O L E!!
My Belizeans, please do not let what this idiot said cloud our minds about the reality of the situation in Belize. Our young people need guidance and love. Lets come together as a nation and heal our youth, before we all become the victims. My call is to the churches, and people of this nation to do what GOD intended us to do. We all wonder what is our purpose in life !! Well we are here as soldiers of Christ. Lets continue the work Jesus started in the land of Galilee. Lets walk our streets, base by base, and talk to our children about them being God’s children,what that means for them and about his intended plan for them. Our youth needs a life of spirituality, so that they can grow to see the light and walk the light.
To my government, I beg that you take matters into your hands and do what is right for our young people. they need back their Youth department. We all need an area of focus, lets give them back. Youth For The Future, can never, will never, and was never intended for the role it is now playing. Reach out to the right people who has the knowledge, will, guts, and hope for our young people, and USE them to your advantage. This is not a political game we are playing, we are playing with the minds, heart and soul of god’s children. Wise up my Belizeans, Lets come together and work to save the souls of our dearly, beloved youth.
The worst thing that ever happened to Belize was getting independance and letting our home grown Belizean politicians rapidly bring in corruption and greed. This has continued until we have the lawlessness of today where good citizens are very wary of going out after dark unless in a vehicle, the few stores that are open serve from behind steel grills. Although Ross Kemp has done the TV exageration, he is basically pretty accurate. Drugs and crime is rife and every Monday’s news bulletin is studied to see how many murders happened over the weekend. Belize is a beautiful country and should be a tourists’ paradise, but it would need a strong honest politician to eliminate graft and corruption.
Its a fair point. We hear this everyday on 7,5, Amandala and all the rest, suddenly this guy pops up saying more or less the same thing and everyone rares up
let’s be realistic and face this matter with “open Mind” it just happen in Morelia,Mexico. a sick mind person killed more than 20 people by using exactly the same granade that was used in Sep. 6 on Princess margaret drive, so guys let’s think about this and get togheter to put an STOP to this violent city
Greetings fine people of Belize, I am not a Belizean, however I have travelled throughout your fine country over the years since 1978, I have also lived in and around Belize City on many occassions including the Southside, also Fairweather Street, Mahogany Street and Majestic Alley to name but a few. Yes you have a gang problem but so do many other cities and countries throughout the developing world. Of course there was exageration, it was as we all know for public viewing and ratings, but there is an element of truth and the murder rate per capita is frightening and hopefully this will now be addressed by a willing and strong governing body, that can also be aided by a strong and willing electorate, I do hope and pray that there is a will by the people to help these guys change their lifestyle and help rather than kill their country folk. I personaly have always enjoyed my times in Belize and I have experienced both sides of the fence including being mugged in Mahogany street some years ago, this episode in my life did not make me think that all Belizeans were of the same ilk and niether did it give me a sense of dislike of your fine country, more of a sense of stupidity on my part for walking down an area with the bling blinding everyone that passed me and obviously someone thought, o, look theres a silly white boy walking down the street in broad daylight with shiny stuff on , I,m havin that , and they did. So if anything it wised me up and taught me a swift lesson. I have always enjoyed my times in Belize and I will be visiting again at the end of the year and look forward to visiting old friends and meeting new ones, bye the way folks me da wah scotsman ah prowd of it and ununshuld be too.
Ketch yo later
Slange H
wow he really researching the bad..stuff like he wanna bring down belize for some reason (s)…hum…mein this is horrible..this is sad..someone need to take him on a tour of the beautiful scenary & treasures we have to offer and put him in shock for good..he’s out looking for the bad in a country..when he got a lot to look for in the usa..he need to put his focus on the country he’s from if he’s from usa..he needs to bring some good in the countries he’s visiting and done with the bad..GOD b with u…
Dear Mr Ross
I am appalled that you visited my country in an attempt to highlight the negatives of a few select individuals when there are so many nice people in our country. We have lovely flora and fauna, beautiful beaches, mysterious mayan cites, wonderful caves, diverse cultures, great food and serene resorts all over our small jewel.
I am a Belizean. I have lived here all of my thirty one years of life. I have two children and I live in comfort and relaxation. So, no, Belize is not the hell hole you have been trying to sensationalize it to be.
Have you lived here? Have you spent enough time for you to recognize that the few who call themselves gangsters are a few lost souls who performed for their fifteen minutes of fame?
Have you been to the wonderful places in this country which would make you feel like you were in heaven? have you been to Punta Gorda? Have you been to Belmopan or Corozal or Caye Caulker? No, you visited Belize City, one small area of the country.
I would have thought that a foreign media personnel would have been better trained.
Mr Ross Belize is a jewel. If you were honest you would accept that. Get real cause you wont win any peace award for your lies.
People, this was a documentary about gangs, not a documentary about Belize. The piece on Belize was only a portion of the entire production. Focus.
Belize has some crime but name me one place that doesn’t have crime. Maybe your the one bringing the guns and bombs.
i travel and the states has a higher crime rate. NY is one of the dangeous places in the World, NOT Belize.
Why don’t you write about that because Belize is not dangerous. I walk belize streets every day and i never got robbed or raped so if you often lie just to make a book wake up. Belize is a safe place and beatiful as it could be.
ross leave Belize alone, go try to make money else where……you obviously dont know the history of Belize…its sad to see sickos like you trying to give a beautiful country like Belize a bad name.
YOU ARE NOT WELCOME IN BELIZE
Yes we have a gang problem, and yes we have a crime problem, but what country and city doeas not. I have lived in Belize City all my life and have never seen it the way I saw it on the documentary tonight, Ross made it look 1000 times worse. For those that have never visited Belize and see his documentary, im sure will never ever visit and indeed miss out on experincing the wonderful parts of this Jewel.Thanks Ross!!! I mean RAAASSS!!!
@#$! u ross it aint that bad -_-*
The Most Dangerous Place on the Planet…WOW…what an idiotic statement to make.
Travel much Ross???
This is from wikipedia
Most murders worldwide per capita:
1. Iraq
2. Venezuala
3. El Salvador
4. Honduras
5. Jamaica
Your facts aren’t researched at all, are they Ross?
You can hardly be called a Journalist.
The ONLY thing you are supposed to do is get your facts straight.
You really suck at your job buddy!
OOO, SOMEONE is getting their facts str8 in BELIZE Ross and ur documentary holds alot of crap…. u should checkout our news website, http://www.channel5belize.com, you have Mr.Brown in fear of his life because of using his words wrongly, and editing you clips to portray him as Gang leader. While u told him that he was just gonna be a regular Belizean guy who made a change in his life……o u did alot of editing on your clips that gave wrong information. Your in Big trouble Ross Kemp. I cant believe ur an European, am in London an they talk so highly of Belize…ggg come on u guys have so much crime here, how about the daily stabbing an i mean THE DAILY STABBING OF YOUTHS HERE, using knift not guns, not grenade..KNIFE..heartless….
I dont think you should be welcome to Belize anymore Ross, you messed us up men. Belize City is just a tiny portion of BELIZE.
HERE IS WHATS ON OUR DAILY NEWS!
Jason Brown reacts to his role in Kemp’s documentary
There is plenty reaction to the gang documentary by Ross Kemp which portrays Belize as a notorious outpost of three thousand people, where criminals, cocaine, gangs and weapons are in control. Last night we showed you a small extract of the one hour piece and the reaction has been fast and furious for the negative image it gives the jewel. Today we interviewed one of the principals in the documentary, Jason Brown, who went along with Kemp in the sensational piece, but who now says he is scared for his life.
Jason Brown, Featured in Kemp’s “Gang” Documentary
“Right here I have in my hands, a document which says that “the George Streets crew are the most feared gang in Belize City operating as local enforcers for the Mexican and Colombian drug cartel. In 2004 the gang leader was sentenced to thirty-three years in Miami prison for smuggling more than ten tons of cocaine into the U.S. Ross meets Jason Brown, the current leader of George Street. Along with a collection of his lieutenants in the trust of Brown, Ross is given an insight on the reality of gang life and discovers as many questions as it could answer.” When he’s states that George Street is operating as local enforcers for the Mexican and Colombian drug cartel, nothing goes like that you understand. So he’s exaggerating a lot. And when he says I’m the leader of George Street, that’s never ever possible and that never was in existence ever at all. I am only affiliated with them but I am not a leader of George Street like he says and for me that is very dangerous for me for him getting on the internet and telling lies like that.”
Marion Ali
“What about this section that you said we have witnesses who we kill. If you are a witness, I could come twelve o’clock in the afternoon and shoot this guy in the middle of the forehead and you are a witness. And then Ross Kemp answered you “I wouldn’t say anything and then you respond you better not.”
Jason Brown
“Yes, what I have to say about that—before that he asked me a question; he asked me … because first of all, I gone into this documentary noting that I was gonna be this guy who is working, changing his life, who was once in the gang and now trying to reform his life. But none of that was portrayed in his video. I was telling him the live reality and stuff of the streets that I experienced back in the past. It’s not like I am the guy who will be shooting people or be killing. I don’t even have a police record for their information, so for them labelling me as this. He asked me a question like this; he said what is the procedure taken when a hit is set on the street for someone and I used the example like this. I said if I was the lieutenant, I would get the smaller guys to do the work for me because that’s how it runs in the street. that’s what I’m explaining to him but he cut where he asks me the question and just portray it like I said oh, I am the lieutenant, I am this. And for that part when I am telling him that if you talk against these people you will get hurt, that’s reality. I was on the streets; when you’re on the streets affiliated with George Street a bit. I was on the streets and I saw lots of bad stuff and several attempts were made on my life too. So what am I supposed to do? For me survival is the key.”
Crispin Jeffries, Assistant Commissioner of Police
“The police was involved through Mr. Douglas Hyde when Mr Kemp indicated to us that his camera crew and his management indicated to us that they want to come and do a documentary on Belize on gangs like they’ve done across the world. That was welcomed, we see it as an opportunity to share Belize like every other country and Mr Kemp’s team came. The team was taken around and they were introduced to a number of things including the Coast Guard, the Belize Defence Force, CYDP and we showed them around. They were given the opportunity to meet people. They did not just get sent into the street to wonder around. They came as an organisation and they were treated as an organised group of people. Regrettably, they have given off the information very slanderously to sensationalise what they found in Belize to make Belize look bad in my estimation. However, there is some truth to what they are saying. They could not have seen or spoken to some of the people if they did not exist. Belize has seen a number of persons, national Geographic, coming to do documentaries. This is only another opportunity that Belize has been highlighted. Unfortunately for us, it came at a time when grenade is in the fore floor. Most persons are scared of grenades so because Ross Kemp has done this, and it has been sensationalise people are in sensory so obviously, the paranoia steps in.”
Police say the grenade that Kemp held in his hands could still very well be in the streets but since the production of the documentary police have confiscated two of the devices. The weapon also resembled the same British type that was lobbed on Carnival day.
Ross Kemp is an a*****e who has fabricated a lot of malicious lies about our PARADISE called BELIZE. The truth is we are the jewel of the entire AMERICA’S and probably the ENTIRE WORLD. Every city in the world has its problems with drugs and violence but we are not rated as he portrays. He should be persecuted for those lies. The picture he has painted about us could be damaging but we will continue to struggle and fight for what is right and that is we are a peaceful and loving people and should not be stereotyped just because of a few rotten bananas that will be cast out of the bunch anyways.
Our country has been slandered badly. As most Belizeans are pointing out, ross has dissected Belize and portrayed an exaggerated image of Belize. I need to Reiterate that every country/cities have there unfortunate gang, violence, drug related problems. Ross crafts his career by exposing countries/cities gang related problems. That his profession. This documentary on Belize is a bit different compared to a documentary of the same scale, say in London for instance. Not to say that gang, drug related incidents are not important but London is huge so a dissected documentary on even the worst part of London would not affect many viewers view of London. Belize is a small developing country so this blown out of proportion documentary will catch people’s attention quickly and paint a bad picture. One of the major income to Belize if not the top income is Tourism. This probably will not affect our industry but it will divert some potential visitors to Belize. I was proud to read all the response and concerns of Belizeans towards ross. Shows that we are proud of country however, we would still love to have the right people with the right frame of mind to lead our country out of all the corruption. I say the next documentary that’s done on Belize should be a private investigation on all the corruption that hails all the way to the top of the Belize government. We need fresh representative in our government, until that happens our country is going to stay stagnant. GET RIGHT POLITICIANS and serve the People of Belize instead of “getting yours”
Sorry for straying unto politics, but when everything is said and done it all falls unto the people that are protecting Belize and Belizeans.