Minister Lisel Alamilla expresses grave concerns

By on July 11, 2013
Senator Lisel Alamilla expresses grave concerns

Senator Lisel Alamilla expresses grave concerns

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Sustainable Development, Senator Lisel Alamilla has written a public essay expressing grave concerns about what she perceives could be the promotion of hate crimes against gay men and women in Belize.

Minister Alamilla posted the short essay on her Facebook page, prefacing her missive by stating that “I do not oppose persons having different views or religious beliefs, but it concerns me immensely when those are being communicated by misinformation, manipulation and fear with could result in hate crime.”

Senator Alamilla used a couple of photographs taken during the pro-Constitution demonstration in Toledo (southern Belize) last week, depicting the hanging in effigy of the United Belize Advocacy Movement, UNIBAM.

“The photo       … is EXTREMELY concerning and even frightening,” wrote Minister Alamilla, questioning whether a line was crossed by those who are opposed to UNIBAM and the revised National Gender Policy.

The Minister’s essay goes on to question: “Will they soon be hanging women who dare to be leaders?  Would they have hanged my son who was disabled?  Would they hang me because I am Mestizo who married a black man? You may say absolutely NOT; but tell me then why is it okay for them to have the cardboard cut out of a person, with a noose around its neck and the word UNIBAM written across its back? Is this not promoting hate, will this not lead to hate crimes?

The essay concludes by noting that violence is already on the increase against persons from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community for their sexual orientation/identity.

“This is personal for me. My loved ones are at risk and our right to be different is at risk,” wrote Senator Alamilla.

The Minister also notes that the challenge to Section 53 of Belize’s Criminal Code is before the Supreme Court and that the Gender Policy is “not a homosexual policy. It is a policy that guides how government will protect the rights of ALL its people. That is the responsibility of government.”

5 Comments

  1. DayofJubilee

    July 11, 2013 at 9:38 pm

    The hag weh get the lick bawl the hardest hahahaha

    • Rhenae

      July 12, 2013 at 4:13 pm

      While the theme of the minister’s oped is valid. I think she’s being extreme also. I think someone stands a better chance of being persecuted for being PUP or anything anti-UDP than one stands for being LGBT. lets not get carried away and for the record, I AM NOT ENDORSING THE EFFIGY!

  2. Asa DeMatteo

    July 11, 2013 at 10:21 pm

    Minister Alamilla should be equally concerned with the real motives of the leaders behind these marches: The Seven Mountains Dominionist Agenda imported to Belize (as well as Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and else where in the Caribbean, Uganda, Nigeria, and other “less developed” countries by American missionaries. Animosity toward LGBT people is not their goal; it is their tool. There goal is to establish monolithic fundamentalist Christian control over the “seven mountains” of society: media, arts & entertainment, business, government, education, religion, and family life. The people of Belize are just real estate, lands to be conquered. They say, libelously, that homosexuals are after your children and your young men; they, however, are after your government and the individual freedoms and rights of your citizens. Don’t underestimate the danger. All you have to do is think of the Taliban, Pakistan, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, or other such theocratic regimes to see what strife is being brought to Belize for no good reason. Don’t inherit the wind. Wake up before it’s too late.

  3. caleb orozco

    July 12, 2013 at 4:44 am

    I did not even know about the imagery, so thanks for the documentation. Its ashame that they felt they needed to say that.

  4. frank

    July 13, 2013 at 1:35 pm

    …while I understand Minister Alamilla concern I understand the people concern more. You cannot adjust the law to accommodate the few and the disregard the the majority and that’s why the demonstrations. We are already allowing them in our society, for if hate towards them were there many would have been hurt or killed already. People tend to ignore them and I think the concern is only about gay men or women but more men. They have existed among us and society has allowed them to coexist but suddenly government wants to legalize them that’s an insult better legalize marijuana. There are other things that need GOV attention are not addressed. Minister your concerns are far fetched and without foundation just look at the truth of the matter….

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