New Experience

Well I don't know how to put it any other way: one of my co-workers at E.P. Yorke was murdered last week. Apparently he was driving around the downtown area at 11 p.m. and a group of "gang bangers" stopped his car and shot him in the head and then took his car. After shooting him, they then tossed him into the street and drove off with the car. Cops later chased down the vehicle and captured 3/5 criminals.

I can say that this is a new experience for me. Never have I personally known someone who has been murdered; to have one of the people you work and interact with on a daily basis taken away is painful. He worked at the high school for the last 10 years and he was a really good basketball player in Belize. I can't recall a day on campus that we didn't joke around or speak to each other. Just recently he started calling me "rich white bwai" because he asked what my parents did for a living. I stated that sure my parents are doing well but as for me, well let's just say that the $79 in my US Bank account would not take me very far.

So yesterday I attended my first Belizean funeral and it was very large even for US standards. They had to use the University of Belize gymnasium for all the people that showed up. The Prime Minister, Minster of Education, The Ambassador of the United States along with other dignitaries were in attendance. My co-worker was the son of the mayor of Belmopan. They are hoping that this senseless murder will be the turning point for the violence in Belize. In my opinion, the corruption will prevent any real progress from taking place.

Far From Home,

Christopher Wilkins Weiss