Violence Renews Focus on Leadership Intervention Unit

As tensions flare in the wake of a recent double murder believed to be linked to gang rivalries stoked online, national focus has once again turned to the Leadership Intervention Unit (LIU), a government body designed to mediate disputes and offer at-risk youth alternatives to violence. In the crosshairs of a national debate between stricter policing and deeper social intervention, the LIU finds itself trying to hold the line between preventative engagement and crisis response. Yesterday our newsroom spoke with the acting director of the LIU, Andrew Dawson who spoke on the preliminary community outreach. 

Andrew Dawson, Acting Director, LIU: “I must say as the rest of Belize, as the rest of community we frown on the wanton act of violence that is committed against Lukey and affectionately known Lukey and Ms.Jones.  We continue to engage this community in a sense to de-escalate the tension that has arisen in several communities not only those who are associated with this specific crime. But LIU continue to maintain a presence within these communities and see how we can get all of the community members and all of government multi-agency type of approach going where it’s a multi-sectoral type of engagement where everyone has a role and responsibility to play. So we continue to engage community members, community leaders and other persons who can make the job a bit easier when we work within these communities. Leadership Intervention Unit of course is not only reactive we’re proactive. And of course the interventions are long term so there’s a constant presence within these communities as it relates to engaging them with intervention meaning just we visit to just maybe check their energy, check their temperature, whether it mediation session and our mediation sessions are basically just as I said to de-escalate to ensure that there’s no other act of violent crimes that will escalate or add to what is already on the fire.”

This past weekend’s fatal shootings, allegedly triggered by inflammatory social media exchanges, have left communities reeling and law enforcement grappling with how to contain escalating violence. The LIU, launched as part of a national crime prevention strategy, operates on the premise that sustainable peace can only be achieved through consistent mentorship, conflict resolution, and community presence. Dawson expressed that despite what occurred they are not discouraged. 

Andrew Dawson, Acting Director, LIU: “I believe the mood is across the board, everyone is grieving, everyone is sad. I mean Ms.Jones was a well loved person. I don’t think that anyone I happy with what is going on. But I must say that they’re in the mode of grieving. I don’t think they’re responding in a way that acts of violence will continue especially on innocent people. I believe we do understand that there is certain instances where we can stop all of these crimes from occurring but LIU continues its part as the police department continues for convictions and arrests LIU maintains a presence and tries to ensure that these individuals are constantly engaged so that we can create dialogue and seek peace in these communities. I don’t think we’re at a point of no return. I believe that if that was the case then we would have been living in a very very sad Belize which we’re not happy but we’re not as sad as yet and I do. believe hat these guys understand that there are boundaries, there are lines as you said that you don’t cross. And I know that these persons within these communities are as upset as we are that you don’t touch mothers, you don’t touch innocent people on a whole you know that in itself is a crime against humanity. So I believe that we understand that that’s a line, it’s been crossed in the past before and I’m sure that the other individuals within these communities haven no intention to continue that type of engagement within these streets.”

The LIU was established in early 2021.