BEL INTRODUCES FUNDRAISING INITIATIVE FOR CRIMESTOPPERS

October 30, 2007

According to statistics given, Belize has reported over 75 murders for 2007. Today Belize Electricity Limited launched an initiative to raise funds in support of Crime Stoppers Belize. Lynn Young, President and CEO of the Belize Electricity Limited told us more about why B-E-L decided to support crime stoppers.

Lynn Young, President and CEO of the Belize Electricity Limited:

“I think that the rampant criminal activity in Belize is everyone’s concern. The Belize Police Department reported that for 2007, there have already been 80 murders, few cases of sexual assaults with many against minors and numerous cases of all robbery. We have to ease the cases of shootings, drug trafficking, human trafficking, contraband trade, child abuse. I didn’t agree that for a small nation such as ours, we are confronted in a social crisis and it requires a community response to start a partnership to help reverse this very worried system.”

Belize Electricity Limited has a customer of 71,000 and Dawn Sampson, Corporate Communications Executive of B-E-L tells us about how they plan to get their customers to support crime stoppers.

Dawn Sampson, BEL Corporate Communications Executive:

“First of all, BEL and Crime Stoppers will be very proactive in getting our customers to pledge. After the customer has pledged, the amount will be noted on his or her electricity bill and they can choose to make payment when they come to pay their bill whether it be at BEL’s offices or any of our collection agents countrywide. Like a said, we will be very proactive in seeking our contributions from customers and so the pledge forms will be available at all BEL offices countrywide. It will be available online at BEL’s website and Crime Stoppers website, as well as all of our collection agents. During the launch ceremony earlier today, you saw four promotional videos that we aired. We’ll be airing these videos on most media houses countrywide, and the idea is to raise public awareness about the initiative. I think an important point to make is that if we each contribute 5 cents, ten cents, or 50 cents, yes it might seem like a small amount, but if we all contribute that little some if will be a large contribution to Crime Stoppers Belize and we can all make a meaningful difference in the fight against crime.”

Alberto Young, Chairman of the Crime Stoppers Belize, gave his views on the initiative that the Belize Electricity launched today.

Alberto Young, Chairman of the Crime Stoppers Belize:

“Partnership is important. We have had partners or platinum sponsors since the inception, but BEL has also been for the past two years, a partner with us and they decided to let’s see how we could contribute more and increase the coverage of the program. The funding will go towards helping to operate Crime Stoppers, but also towards looking at a social program, because it’s not just taking criminals off the street, its also dealing with the crime prevention ensuring that citizens aren’t becoming criminals because then we will not live in a safe country and I’m sure that all of us would love to live in a safer country. So the funds will go towards keeping Crime Stoppers alive and that we can expand our coverage, and also most importantly to look at the social programs and ensure that we’re dealing with the crime prevention part of it.”

The Belize Electricity Limited also made a donation of $10,000 towards the efforts of Crime Stoppers Belize.

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