Belize Records 89 Murders in 2024, Maintaining Downward Trend in Homicide Rate

Belize’s murder rate has seen a significant downward trajectory over the past nineteen years. Last year the country recorded 89 murders, which was two more than in 2023. The figures were a significant decrease compared to previous years when the country was recording over 100 murders. Yesterday, Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa weighed in on last year’s figure and what he believed has contributed to the change. 

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs: “I am satisfied with the number, I think it is important that we take a pause to reflect on the good work that we have seen throughout the course of 2024. We haven’t seen such low numbers since the year 2005. That is 20 full years of seeing a rising homicide rate now going down and I think that is in large part due to the excellent work of our Commissioner of Police and all police officers as well as the various programs we have implemented under this administration, particularly the Leadership Intervention Unit. I think we are now seeing the dividends of that. And so while it is that we take pause to pat ourselves on the back, so to speak, it’s also important that we continue to work together as a team and continue to press as we move into 2025 to even bring those numbers down. Because in my opinion, it’s 89 too many. I’m thankful it’s gone down but we need to take it down further.”

 Of the eighty-nine murders registered last year, the Police Commissioner cited domestic violence as the leading cause of the majority of those murders.