I don't know about Belize, but in England most crime is committed by youths aged 14-19, and much of that is nowadays drug-related. So anyone who pushes drugs is very directly affecting the lot of ordinary people.

In Florida it's 16-24 mostly. When you figure crack babies started showing up in the schools in 1990, it's easy to see that this is the second generation affected by crack. Let's not forget the kids of the drug users and pushers. One of the kids I work with was running crack for his Mom on the streets at 7. Others are neglected at best, often abused, even sexually abused by the guys Mom keeps around to keep her in drugs. These kids are emotionally and physically scarred, and may never grow up to be productive adults. Something needs to be done.

Some of the best information on the " BIG PICTURE" of drugs, U.S./Mex Banking and CIA involvment in Central America can be found at these two sites : www.fromthewilderness.com/free/pandora/courage.html and www.NarcoNews.com which include reports from Al Giordano of the Mexican daily - POR ESTO ....It's interesting that citibank bought Roberto Hernandez Ramirezes' BanaMex . Where did Vincente Fox celibrate his victory after being elected ? at Roberto H.Ramirezes' Haciendia in Cancun... Roberto Ramirez has been exposed as one of the biggest drug traffic/financiers/launderboys of Central America; and while all this tends to "BANKRUPT" The Americas some blame tourists ....I would bet that in two weeks that "haul" finds it's way to the coast of Arkansaw...and that Bill Clinton gets his share.

I doubt Clinton is getting his share of anything but the royalties on his book.
No one pushed more drugs through Central/South America than the Reagan administration with Ollie North and the Contras, but then again some folks like revisionist history.
And the Bushs', nah, don't even want to go there.
Heading to SP tomorrow and the current crook and war monger is the last thing on my mind.
Peace.

Capatilism at it's best!

I thought it ironic how Ronald Reagan's economic policy (no more Belizean sugar imports) directly affected Nancy's "War on Drugs".

Sugar cane was replaced with Marijuana, a more profitable export. Orange Walk was THE PLACE in the 80's!! I can still show you the airstrips where the Menonites would load cargo JETS full of this cash crop (Blue Creek area).

Does anyone remember the steel poles on each side of the straight stretches of the Northern Highway?

SIN

I remember seeing straight stretches of the highway being "torn up" with temporary turnouts every so often ...rumored to be done by the gov't ( both BZ and US)in attempts to stop light planes from flying in and landing on the highway.

Never heard of the Mennonite connection though....seems a little far fetched, but who knows.

I was shocked when I heard of the Mennonite connection too but it's true. Gangsta's - who woulda thought? My friend in the BDF used to tell some stories!

I am Mennonite and also heard of this when it occurred in the late 1990's. It was a cause of sadness in our church. I don't know a lot of details but heard it was a small group of Mennonites from Mexico transporting primarily to Canada. Mennonite, much like Jew, is a term descriptive of either/both a faith and an ethnic heritage. Just as all Jews do not practice the Jewish faith, not all Mennonites practice the Mennonite faith.

yeah, I know a couple of Amish dudes that deal coke in Lancaster, PA.

What a bummer. Not only do I find out that some San Pedranos break the law, now you tell me that Jews, Mennonites and Amish do also.