In the Supreme Court, a major decision has been delivered about a sitting justice. Justice Courtney Abel handed down a decision last Friday on two claims: claim eighty three of 2013 filed by Dean Boyce and claim eighty five of 2013 filed by British Caribbean Bank Limited and Lord Michael Ashcroft. The claims challenged the legality of a decision by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission to not refer to the Belize Advisory Council a complaint, lodged in July 2012. The claimants sought the removal from the Court of Appeal, of Justice Samuel Awich, for misbehavior and/or inability to perform the functions of the office.

In the Supreme Court, a major decision has been delivered about a sitting justice. Justice Courtney Abel handed down a decision last Friday on two claims: claim eighty three of 2013 filed by Dean Boyce and claim eighty five of 2013 filed by British Caribbean Bank Limited and Lord Michael Ashcroft. The claims challenged the legality of a decision by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission to not refer to the Belize Advisory Council a complaint, lodged in July 2012. The claimants sought the removal from the Court of Appeal, of Justice Samuel Awich, for misbehavior and/or inability to perform the functions of the office.
 

Magali Marin Young

“The complaint was a compliant in relation to his elevation by the Prime Minister to the position of a Court of Appeal Judge. And the complaint alleged that Mister Awich’s behavior—while he was in the Supreme Court—was behavior that could be described…in terms of his delay in delivery of judgment and in his conduct of cases involving these two parties constituted misbehavior and showed inability for him to sit as a Supreme Court judge and even more so as a Court of Appeal judge. That complaint unfortunately was not referred by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission to the Belize Advisory Council. The Judicial and Legal Services Commission with the Bar Association in the minority decided not to refer it because it found that the behavior of Mister Justice Awich, while he was a Supreme Court judge was not in fact relevant to the removal process in relation to his position as a Court of Appeal judge and they found that the complaint was premature. Well the court today, found that the Judicial and Legal Services Commission erred; that in fact, Mister Justice Awich’s behavior, before he was elevated to the Court of Appeal, his behavior while he was a Supreme Court judge, is very much relevant to any removal process pursuant to section 102 of the Belize Constitution. And it also found that the behavior complained of was serious enough to warrant the Judicial and Legal Services Commission referring the matter to the Belize Advisory Council.”

Justice Abel found “that the evidence put before the JLSC was capable of amounting to and therefore could have amounted to misbehavior. Likewise the question of inability to discharge the functions of the office related to the office of the Court of Appeal.” It is good news for the Claimants, says Attorney Magali Marin Young, because it lends credibility to the concerns of Justice Awich sitting on its cases. According to Young, the Judicial and Legal Services Commission is now duty-bound to refer the matter to the Belize Advisory Council.

Magali Marin Young, Attorney

“The case today is…one of the grounds of appeal before the Caribbean Court of Justice concerns Mister Justice Awich….while he was newly appointed to the Court of Appeal sitting on the very appeal concerning the nationalization of B.T.L.  And these same parties, British Caribbean Bank and the Employees Trust, as you know their properties were expropriated under the nationalizations that took place in 2011. With Mister Justice Awich sitting on the appeal, the appellants applied to the Court of Appeal to have Mister Justice Awich recuse himself because during the appeal, this complaint was a live issue—it had already been made to the Judicial and Legal Services Commission—and the appellants felt in that regard, they would not…that Mister Awich sitting on the appeal knowing that the appellants had filed this complaint against him could result in a decision that was unfavorable to them because of the appearance of bias on the part of Mister Justice Awich. So as you are well aware, the Court of Appeal went against our clients and one of the grounds of appeal concerns Mister Justice Awich sitting on the appeal, while the complaint to the Judicial and Legal Services Commission was made.”
 

A sensational video from Anonymous has gone viral in Belize. The video entitle Anonymous Message to Belize has been viewed more than 6,000 times and apparently has the ruling regime all a twitter.

Wikipedia describes Anonymous as:

"Anonymous (used as a mass noun) is a loosely associated international network of activist and hacktivist entities. A website nominally associated with the group describes it as "an internet gathering" with "a very loose and decentralized command structure that operates on ideas rather than directives".[2] The group became known for a series of well-publicized publicity stunts and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks on government, religious, and corporate websites."

The video states that Anonymous has been operating in Belize for the past three years, and is aware that the ruling United Democratic Party is one of the most corrupt regimes in the world, and facilitates money laundering and drug trafficking. Anonymous points out that almost half of the Belize's population lives in poverty, but its corrupt government prevents the country from aspiring to become a super state despite all the riches and natural attractions is possesses.

Comments on YouTube suggest the Anonymous video has been inspired by BELAMERS, Belizean-descent people living in the U.S.A. who, having sworn allegiance to a foreign state (the U.S.A.) are not allowed to run for electoral office in Belize - a position supported by Belizeans living in Belize, and the two main political parties, the United Democratic Party, and the Peoples United Party. But a position that is disputed by fringe, third parties in Belize that are unable to gain traction locally, and want foreigners to run for political office.

Ruperto Vicente

The Football Federation of Belize has been overwhelmed by internal sparring, a lack of organizational cohesion, management crises and allegations of financial mismanagement…so much so that some members of the Executive Committee had been alienated and we are told that all decisions were being made only by President Ruperto Vicente. It’s an unsustainable position for an organization which has known more than its share of controversy. But things have come to a head – perhaps forced to that point by the disqualification of the Belmopan Bandits from the Champions League. On Monday night Executive Members and league delegates from across the country were called to a meeting at F.F.B. Headquarters in Belmopan. Embattled F.F.B. President Ruperto Vicente told News Five today that all issues, no matter how unpleasant, were on the table for discussion.

Ruperto Vicente, President, Football Federation of Belize

“It was a very productive meeting. All the issues were aired out and as mature individuals we were able to say what we had to say, explain what we had to explain, and so we made a pledge to the members of the assembly and the delegates that we will embark on continuing the work for football development in Belize, and that’s where we’re at now.”

Reporter

“Are you confident that the issues have been resolved? There have been allegations of mismanagement…wide ranging allegations…we’ve talked about suspensions for Executive members…has all that been resolved?”

Ruperto Vicente

“Certainly! As I said everything was laid on the table, and one of the things we strongly agreed on was living by our statutes, following our statutes and making decisions according to our statutes, and we were weak in that. That is what has been affecting us and we have come to the conclusion that that’s what we need to do and so the Executive has agreed to continue to work together.”

Reporter

“Sir what was the discussion like when it comes to the recent situation with the pitch at the FFB Stadium not being ready for the CONCACAF championship? I can assume that was a heated discussion.”

Ruperto Vicente

“No, no…the discussion of the pitch did not come up. We never did discuss that because we have accepted the fact that our pitch was not ready for Champions League tournament and so we have to live with that. Even one of my good friends has advised me to count my losses, because this pitch is not going to be ready for Champions League, and so get ready for next year. So we’ve accepted that.”

While the impending Fairtrade disaster has taken center stage with the B.S.C.F.A. and the five thousand plus cane farmers in the north, there is plenty of turmoil in the industry even without it. Bagasse payment remains the ten thousand pound gorilla in the room which nobody wants to touch. The Sugar Industry Control Board, G.O.B.’s entity in the industry, has been asked to intervene and to assist with an independent expert. That body has finally responded, and that response has sent the B.S.C.F.A. and B.S.I. back to the table.

Alfredo Ortega, Vice Chairman, Committee of Management, B.S.C.F.A.

“A meeting was called from the Sugar Board, from the SICB, on which B.S.I. presented that they had sent a letter to the association that they would want to continue the negotiation with the association. But the association did not answer them because we were awaiting the result of the board meeting. Well in that board meeting, it throws the ball again into our ball court for us to meet with B.S.I.  And in this meeting that was held today, the branch chairman agreed that we will be meeting with B.S.I., but having into consideration sending a letter again to the board on which we are requesting that the independent expert be hired for him to look on the formulas of both sides and for him to come out with an analysis to present to us.”

Reporter

Alfredo Ortega

“I understand that there are also other conditions in that letter; one of them being that B.S.I./BELCOGEN presents their audited reports?”

Alfredo Ortega

“Yes we asked them that we would want to have the continuation of the negotiation, but with this information that we are being asking fro from the initial start of this negotiation which is the audit report, BELCOGEN audit report also and their financial report. They have said that there are certain information that are sensitive that they cannot give us so we will see what the results of that meeting. We have proposed to them the twenty-ninth, they proposed the fifth and now we will be sending them a letter that we would want to meet with them on the third of September.”

B.S.I. has remained adamant that there is no need for third party intervention, and also that they will not hand over audited B.S.I./BELCOGEN financial reports.

A letter from Tate & Lyle delivered to the B.S.C.F.A. on Tuesday has sent shockwaves through that Association, which governs eighteen branches in Orange Walk and Corozal. Citing the fluctuating EU market, the company proceeded to inform the B.S.C.F.A. that it would be purchasing fifty-five thousand tons less of sugar from them under the Fairtrade agreement. What’s more, Tate & Lyle has changed the payment schedule, delaying the delivery of monies for Fairtrade sugar. It’s bad news all around, and prompted an emergency meeting of all branch representatives at B.S.C.F.A. headquarters. Mike Rudon was there and has the story.

Alfredo Ortega, Vice Chairman, Committee of Management, B.S.C.F.A.

“It came as a bombshell because we did not know anything about that. So it is not something that we went to a negotiation and know that this will be happening and to let us know that this will be happening in a certain period of time so that we can prepare ourselves. It only came like that and according to the letter, it will be implemented as of the 2014/2015 crop.”

Mike Rudon, Reporting

The crisis facing the BSCFA and sugar cane farmers is simple but significant. Last year Tate & Lyle purchased sixty-five thousand tons of Fairtrade sugar at sixty dollars U.S. per ton. This year the company says it will purchase only ten thousand tons of sugar to start with. That scenario sent cane-farmer representatives into emergency session at two-thirty this afternoon.

Alfredo Ortega

“It’s a huge loss. Last year we got six point nine million Belize dollars and it was only sixty thousand tons that was sold. This year, what they had proposed to buy from us was sixty-five thousand—sixty to the E.U. and five thousand to the US—so that is what we will be getting this year. But this coming crop, the 2014/2015 crop, they are saying that they will only be buying as a minimum ten thousand tons. So it is a very big reduction from six point nine to almost one point two million. It is a very huge, the difference and it will definitely create problem within the organization.”

Alfredo Ortega

The six point nine million dollars, and indeed the millions received ever year from the sale of Fairtrade sugar, are pumped back into maintaining certification standards, and also into projects to benefit cane-farmers with a view to increase production and develop the industry.

Alfredo Ortega

“That money is used to comply with the standards with the floor standards because you know they have some heavy standards that we need to comply with: the use of agrochemicals, the environment, child labor, administration and many things that we have to comply with. And many of these funds is being used in compliance of these different programs. And also these funds are used in granting help to the farmers in regards to agrochemicals and other programs that they put on board. And also we have social programs that we have been helping the education sector with infrastructure, healthcare, medicine and whatnot. So with this reduction, that means that many of those programs that we were contemplating before that we won’t be able to do so and many of our staff at this point will have to…we have to come to a cut in regards to staff because of this situation.”

The branch chairmen assembled today have come up with a tentative plan of action – tentative because they’re still trying to understand the move by Tate & Lyle, and they have to understand the causes and ramifications fully before any decisive step is taken.

Alfredo Ortega

“It’s something that harms us and we will be sending a letter to them. We’ll be analyzing very in depth this situation and we want to know if it is really the market out there that is causing this situation or if it is another thing. So we will be analyzing this situation and looking forward to sending a letter to Tate and Lyle again to see what is the market situation into this. Because the letter that they sent is not too clear, it says that the market situation is the problem, but it takes us into a bad situation right now because it just came in, in surprise. It was not something that was forecast before.”

And while analysis, information gathering and dialogue is the order of the day, the first, and perhaps hardest task will be convincing ASR to revisit the decision because of the severe impact anticipated.

Alfredo Ortega

“I think that the window of opportunity is very limited because they are the ones that pay it, they are the ones that make the decisions. So the best thing is for us to dialogue and negotiate how best and to let them know what negative impact it will have on our farmers and also to the industry of Belize.”

Where the change in payment schedule is concerned, the B.S.C.F.A. intends to consult with other Fairtrade certified countries to determine if all have received the same treatment from Tate & Lyle. Mike Rudon for News Five.

According to Ortega, the least amount of Fairtrade sugar ever purchased from Belize has been fifty thousand tons.

Uwahnie Martinez

The Christian Workers Union which represents bank employees has joined the chorus of condemnation against the Dangriga Branch of the First Caribbean Bank. Recently, a bank employee, Uwahnie Martinez, was written by the management instructing that she desist from using her native tongue when conducting transactions with customers.  While a meeting has been requested with the CWU to address the matter, it is unclear when the sit-down will be held since the union has rejected the terms under which that meeting should be held.  The bank, it seems, would prefer to have the issue of speaking Garifuna dealt with separately from that of Martinez’s subsequent resignation.  The situation has caused an uproar in Dangriga and elsewhere within the wider Garifuna community. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

The issue of Uwahnie Martinez being prohibited from speaking Garifuna at her workplace at CIBC FirstCaribbean’s Dangriga Branch has raised the ire of the Garifuna community at home and abroad.  While FirstCaribbean’s Country Manager Glen Smith declined an interview with News Five to comment on the issue, Audrey Matura-Shepherd, the outspoken president of the Christian Workers Union, which represents the bank’s employees, condemn the position of the lending institution.

Audrey Matura-Shepherd, President, Christian Workers Union

“The employees of First Caribbean bank are members of the Christian Worker’s Union. The issue that they are having right now in terms of discrimination against people speaking Garifuna has been brought to the union and so as the president of the union, CWU has been made abreast of it and we are looking into it. What has happened the bank wrote me and asked me for a meeting to deal only with the Garifuna issue and they wanted to have a separate meeting to meet with the person who is the victim in this situation. We at the union took the position that we will not have two separate meetings and we are not going to have a meeting that affects any member without that member present. So we wrote a letter to the bank and said can we have one meeting. We are still awaiting their response. We have since written them another letter and asked them to give us all documentation that is relevant to this case. They have not responded yet because it is beyond just the discrimination in terms of the language, but we believe that our client, our member, has been victimized in other forms. So we are waiting for that documentation. We have not received it; after we receive it, we will go to a meeting because there has to be full and frank disclosure if we are going to discuss one’s rights. This is your right to work; this is your right as an employee.”

Audrey Matura-Shepherd

The matter came to light recently when Dr. Theodore Aranda, a resident and well-known activist from that municipality, gave an exclusive account detailing instances in which Martinez has been reportedly reprimanded for speaking her native tongue with others while transacting business at the bank.

Audrey Matura-Shepherd

“I see that the bank went ahead and issued a press release and if you read the press release properly, you would see that one, we never made any claims that anybody was suspended—at least not from the union. This matter took a life of its own before when we got into it, clearly there were details that we didn’t know of at the time. But if you read the release clearly, it is saying that the official language is encouraged to be spoken in public spaces and that you can speak your own language in private conversations. Anybody who’s smart enough will understand that that means don’t speak your native language in our public space and public space is when you are dealing with customers. The reality is that Belize is a very diverse country. I am Spanish and when I meet my friends that speak Spanish, I automatically break into Spanish. I am a service oriented person. I speak the language of the people when I am dealing with them. It is a simple case of that. But like I said, it is deeper than that and I think the bank and everybody in Belize need to be minded that under United Nations convention on the Right of Indigenous People—Garifuna are classified as indigenous people. These articles of the convention guarantee you the right to your identity and to speak your language at all times.”

Interestingly, the bank, in corresponding with Matura-Shepherd has requested that the matter not be discussed publicly, including in the realm of social media.

Audrey Matura-Shepherd

“I did get a letter from the Director of Industrial and Employee Relations from their headquarters which is in Barbados and I really think it is high-minded. It shows you the issues that I have to deal with where they actually believe that they can write me and tell me not to make any comment—not on Facebook and anything else—when they issued their own press release as well and they never consulted me. They are talking about partnership, but partnership in this situation goes both ways. And if there was a genuine partnership, I would say publicly that when they decided to go after our member, they should have also had the courtesy to contact us. We have never stifled them to do what they want to do.”

Matura-Shepherd says that matter of CIBC FirstCaribbean’s restriction fails to take into consideration the demography of Dangriga.

Audrey Matura-Shepherd

“It is vastly affected by the demography because you can’t go set up shop in a community that is predominantly Garifuna and not expect to cater to the needs of that. it is good customer service for you to be able to deal with people in the language that they are comfortable with. I have gone to Corozal to do business at the bank and we’ve spoken in only Spanish, and that’s different banks of course and I have never had a problem with it. I have had to represent clients that speak only Spanish; I’ve had to represent Mexicans that speak only Spanish and no bank has told us that the clients or the customers or the employees cannot speak Spanish. I think it is a matter of sensitivity and we are hoping for this individual that we are able to go deeper and find out what’s happening. But like I said, it is more than just the issue of the language.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.

Shaeleen Castillo

As we told you, there is escalating anger against the CIBC FirstCaribbean. Late this evening, Manager of Retail Banking and Operations, Shaeleen Castillo responded to the allegations being made at the Dangriga Branch.  While Castillo declined to comment on the employment status of Uwanhie Martinez, the statement followed a meeting that was held in Dangriga this afternoon with Mayor Gilbert Swazo, as well as other members of the Garifuna community.

Shaeleen Castillo, Operations Manager, CIBC FirstCaribbean

“We are anxious to bring this matter to a very speedy resolution. We want to highlight and to repeat and to make it clear that we don’t discriminate against any person based on race, heritage, sex and in fact we have a policy in the bank that prohibits any form of discrimination. We have the utmost respect for the Garifuna people and we have been active in the community for many years. There has never been any intention by the bank to disregard or disrespect the cultural heritage or the traditions of the Garifuna community. We have been in Belize since 1949. We were the first bank to extend to the districts and we started off with Dangriga and we started there in 1953. And so we are also proud to highlight that our staff base, it comprises people of all ethnicities including the Garifuna people and at least ten percent of our staff comprises of Garifuna employees. We at CIBC FirstCaribbean embrace all ethnicities and cultures within the communities in which we operate. Never has there been any attempt on our part to stifle the use of any native language of our employees. And so we confirm that we CIBC FirstCaribbean, our staff, our management; we did not issue any written directive to the staff regarding not using Garifuna in the branch and there is no policy within CIBC FirstCaribbean prohibiting the use of Garifuna or any other native language within the bank. Our employees are free to use whatever language they are comfortable with in their private conversations. So you know, FirstCaribbean, we operate across the Caribbean and in the territories in which we operate, there are other native languages that are used and staff are free to use those languages. We encourage diversity in all its forms and within all sectors of our community especially within the Garifuna community….you know the culture is rich and we have supported that in so many ways. We have contributed to the National Garifuna Council; we have contributed to the Gulisi Museum. Our renowned Unsung Heroes Program, we’ve had two persons of Garifuna heritage who have been finalists and even when there are Settlement Day activities, the bank has given full support to staff to participate in those activities. We have participated in the Settlement Day parade; we have brought in the drummers and the dancers in the branch; we’ve showcased the culture in terms of the food and even the dress. I recall fondly one year where the staff across all ethnicities wore their cultural outfits. So we are very much in support of the culture. In terms of any HR or Industrial Relations matters, we are not at liberty to discuss those and those would be pursued through other channels according to the laws of Belize. I was in Dangriga today and I had privilege to meet with Mayor Suazo and we are hoping then that through his leadership, we will be able to have further communication with the Garifuna community and so bring a smooth and fast resolution to this matter. So again we just want to extend apologies for any misunderstanding and we are in full support of diversity and in full support of our Garifuna culture here in Belize.”

It is expected that the matter will be fully resolved in the days ahead.

Just before news time, the CIBC First Caribbean Bank held a press conference in reaction to escalating anger against the Bank for not disallowing one of its employees to speak to clients in her native Garifuna language. We will have that later in the newscast, but we go to Dangriga where a huge protest was held this morning by the residents who felt compelled to demonstrate against the bank.  The matter has been brewing since the start of the week and News Five’s Isani Cayetano has been following this story and files the following report.  

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

The crush of protestors, complete with drummers and singers, as it proceeded along Commerce Street shortly before midday, made its way to CIBC FirstCaribbean Bank in Dangriga.  The peaceful demonstration succeeds a chorus of disapproval from residents earlier this week when the plight of Uwanhie Martinez, an employee of the lending institution, who has been barred from speaking Garifuna while transacting business with customers, was made public.  Today, dozens, including others from various ethnicities, took to the streets to voice their discontent.

Roy Cayetano

Roy Cayetano, Dangriga Resident

“I think the natives have ample reason to be riled up.  We have put up with this foolishness for way, way too long.  There was a time where people would tell you when the use of our language was limited in schools and churches and we allowed it, but that was then, this is now, you know, times have changed.  We are supposed to be enlightened, we know our rights now and there is international law to bolster our position.”

That position is that the use of Garifuna, an indigenous language recognized by UNESCO as such, should be encouraged in an effort to preserve the cultural tongue of the Garifuna people.  The issue of its prohibition in the workplace, particularly in Dangriga where a majority of the population is comprised of that ethnic group has rubbed residents the wrong way.  President of the National Garifuna Council Robert Mariano spoke on behalf of the organization.

Robert Mariano

Robert Mariano, President, National Garifuna Council

“The NGC is totally unhappy with the rules of the bank where being in a Garifuna community, Garifuna people cannot speak their own language when doing transactions in the bank.  As president, I have received several emails, calls, texts and even comments from people within our community and from other parts of the world.”

The universal sentiment, one of utter disdain, has resulted in an ultimatum by residents of Dangriga.

Robert Mariano

“You are hearing people saying that if the bank cannot cooperate with us then it’s best they just pack up and leave.  People are totally unhappy, or my people are totally unhappy about this and if you look around you will notice that we don’t just have only Garifuna people here.  We have, Belize is a diverse country and we have people from all walks of life out here.  We have the Creole, we have the Spanish, we have Garifuna, we have Mayans.  We have so many people who are out here supporting us as well.”

Among them is Dr. Luis Zabaneh, a well-known and respected member of this coastal community.

Luis Zabaneh

Dr. Luis Zabaneh, Dangriga Resident

“All the circumstances here are very shocking to me, I certainly had to come out and lend my support to my community.  This is where I grew up, I have all my family and friends are from here and so I had to come and [find out what’s going on.]  This is quite shocking, if that’s the case and it’s something that certainly cannot be tolerated in our country, if that’s the case.”

Isani Cayetano

“Do you think that if these particular allegations prove to be true that the policy of the bank needs to change almost immediately with regards to the fact that it is operating within a predominantly Garifuna community?”

Dr. Luis Zabaneh

“There should be no hesitation, I mean, in fact I would say that even if it’s not the case, the bank has to be much more proactive and say “listen, this is not us and do certain things to gain back the confidence of the community.  It is very simple, a bank is a very important institution, it is where people place their trust and anything like this is totally unacceptable, they have to come out and be more proactive about it.”

Frank ‘Papa’ Mena

The issue, as far as it concerns the bank’s position, also goes beyond party political color lines.  Present and very vocal in the protests were various political leaders, including Mayor Gilbert Swazo, area representative Ivan Ramos and political hopeful Frank ‘Papa’ Mena.

Frank ‘Papa’ Mena, Dangriga Resident

“The bank came here.  What the bank found here is for here and so as far as I put that, that’s garbage and we have to stand up because these are the small things that fester and they become so huge that they become uncontrollable, so we have to stand up.  Zero tolerance to that.  When other languages come in the workplace and they speak as they so desire, nothing is being said and I don’t want to single out any group but many other groups speak strongly wherever, in the bank and nothing is being said.  So why is the Garifuna being singled out in that fashion?”

Ivan Ramos

Ivan Ramos, Area Representative, Dangriga

“I am appalled by the position of the bank and I couldn’t believe when I looked deeper into the policy that the bank, in this time and age, is still condoning racism to such an extent.  It’s a situation that needs to be corrected immediately, Dangriga is a Garifuna town and I would feel very, very uncomfortable not being able to speak Garifuna.  But the issue is beyond that, the policy of the bank needs to change and those that they send to Dangriga need to be sensitive that they are also doing business in a Garifuna community and with Garifuna people.  So, to have such a policy is simply unacceptable.”

The management of CIBC FirstCaribbean convened a meeting this afternoon in Dangriga with the leadership of the National Garifuna Council, as well as the area representative and other prominent members of the community.  It is unclear however, what the status of Martinez’s employment is and if a similar meeting has been held with the Christian Workers Union, the representative body of the bank’s employees.

There is late breaking news. The Western Dairies, the popular ice cream shop, which is located on Freetown Road was jacked this afternoon by armed men. Police are processing the scene and there are few confirmed details available at this time. But we can report that just before five o’clock this evening, the robbers entered the business from the rear of the building. There was quick reaction by the police and at least one of the robbers was shot while the others fled the area. In the rush, they left behind a bicycle on the ground and a handgun, which the police retrieved from the scene. The injured robber was taken to the hospital and as we said the others are on the run. 

Agripina Coc

The brutal murder and probable rape of the elderly woman from the village of San Pedro, Columbia has sparked tremendous grief, outrage and fear. The nude body of sixty-one year old Agripina Coc was found at around seven-thirty on Saturday evening by family members. She had been chopped to the head, and because of the state of the body when it was found, it is believed that she was raped. Residents of the small peaceful community in the Toledo District have risen up in force, and along with the Police, are hunting for the man they believe is responsible for the murder of Coc. Our News Five team has been following the terrible tragedy and has the story.

Mike Rudon, Reporting

Agripina Coc left home at around two pm Saturday afternoon, heading to the store to buy groceries. At six she hadn’t returned, and since that was unusual for the quiet, Christian woman, her family members started searching for her at around six pm. At seven-thirty, her daughter-in-law made the gruesome discovery at this spot at the southern entrance to the village.

Resident, San Pedro Columbia

“So we start search, search, search and we ask the people to help. And we call the nine-one-one police station asking for assistance to help us do the search. We kept on searching and we find the body and we called them back to come get the body…sometime around nine-thirty.”

Francisco Coc, Husband of Murder Victim

“They no allow me to go and see. I just pay respect. When they pick her up t take her to the PG Hospital, that’s where I get to see her with a big chop on her head…on her right forehead here and all the way to the back.”

Francisco Coc

Agripina Coc was found nude, the groceries she had purchased at the shop scattered around her…covered in blood. Her body was transported to the Punta Gorda morgue by Police. But why would somebody harm the woman who by all accounts bothered no-one and lived a good life?

Francisco Coc

“Probably they thought or think I have money and they thought that she was carrying a lot of money so that’s why they did that. Or carnal knowledge [rape] because I found my wife naked.”

The murder of Coc has united the village, and angered them. Their rage also has a target – a young man from the village whom they say constantly harassed the women. Villagers have been hunting for him since Saturday, and are not waiting around for Police to find him. Their faith in the Police is somewhat lacking because they claim the scene was poorly processed from the start.

Resident, San Pedro Columbia

“All they came to do is to cut the wire, pick up the body and they fly back. And the evidence was there. The groceries were full of blood and the clip that she uses is right on the ground and they also had a rag that was there and these police didn’t collect all the evident. They want to know more about it but then they didn’t do their job.”

Resident, San Pedro Columbia

“Everybody ya da family, so we really need justice on the real side. Justice dah weh we need. We got kids weh go dah school and from yah to the village dah about a mile and we need fi we safety; that dah weh we need.”

Florencio Coc

Florencio Coc, Son of Murder Victim

“I think what they did to my mother, I don’t like it. And I think lotta things to do to this guy here but he is hiding. I hope police catch him becuase it is bad whathe doing; chancing an old lady.”

The hunt for the suspected killer is motivated by rage, but it is also fuelled by fear. The brutal murder of Agripina Coc has brought home the realization that none of the women in the community are safe.

Resident, San Pedro Columbia

 “I feel afraid because nobody want to come late right now. Because most of the time around the creek out, you can see them sometimes looking at you. You give a report to the police and they say they will look into it and when you see nothing happens and they just leave it like that. And we tired of it; we need them man behind bars cause we noh need them kind of people to be out because we have kids.”

Villagers believe that the murderer is hiding nearby, and they intend to deliver him to justice, dead or alive. Mike Rudon for News Five.

Police have not named the man being sought for the murder, so we have withheld his name also. Villagers tell us that he has been in trouble with the Police before, and is also known to harass elderly women in the community. At least seven women including a minor have lost their lives to crime and violence since the beginning of the year.