Tensions Rise in Lemonal Village After Violent Attack Leaves Banner Brothers in Custody

Tensions in Lemonal Village continue to mount as ongoing disputes between local factions threaten the community’s peace. The situation unfolded on Saturday night when a violent confrontation occurred involving Jason Banner and his brother Gareth Banner Jr. According to reports by the family, Banner was approached by several persons who alighted a vehicle and initiated a violent attack.  A physical altercation ensued and that was when Gareth intervened which led to an escalation.  According to the Banner family, one of the four attackers wielded a machete.   Tonight, the Banner brothers are in police custody at the Ladyville Police Station. The family believes that this incident is a direct attack on Gareth with a plan to have him lose his job at the Belize Coast Guard. Father of the Banner brothers, Gareth Banner Senior, spoke to Love News with an appeal to the Coast Guard Commander.

Gareth Banner, Father of Banner Brothers: “Saturday night, pertaining that my son Jason Banner came from Mango Creek from his work and come to see his grandmother, because his grandmother is sick and coming across back the bridge ________, and _______ and __________ attacked Jason Banner and Jason Banner attacked back at ________ fearing for his life because he said like an object was coming out of the car like a machete.  So at his vision he swing around and his hand broke _______’s side glass. They want to put on Gareth Junior because my son is in Coast Guard. I want Mr.Bennett to take this note that every time my son comes home from his six days leave they always mess with my son. They always tell him “I’m going to see you lose your job. You have to lose your job.” My son started at the Coast Guard department as a yardman, Gareth Jr. He takes pride in what he does. He’s a humble kid. He has enough respect for everyone.”

Banner Senior furthered his statement alleging that there is obstruction of justice by police officers in Ladyville.  They are calling on the Police Commissioner to intervene.  Another victim in Saturday night’s fight was Lemonal resident, Elswith Andrews, who says his life was threatened.

Elswith Andrews, Lemonal Resident: “Today I’m here because for some reason I feel like the police officers in Bermudian Landing they’re not doing their job and they’re taking sides to the situation that’s always occurring over and over in Lemonal Village. And I think it’s time for a change. We really need some help so I’m speaking out now because I want Mr.Chester Williams understand this and do something about it because if he doesn’t do something about it it will end up in a bigger situation and it’s really looking bad on the police right now. The same process in this thing that happened on Saturday night you have a _____ that approached me and told me that he will kill me Saturday night. So I went to the station Sunday morning to make my report which was the same time ______ was there too making his report. And my report went in, I gave my report, signed off on everything like normal procedure but the report never did reach Ladyville. The inspectors here they don’t understand they don’t know what happened so they called Sargent Lambey out there at Landing he can’t give no answer he says he doesn’t know about this. How will you not know about something when you’re running the station out there? How won’t you know about something when you control that ?”

The family remains on edge, fearing that the conflict could escalate further if not addressed promptly and impartially.