B.D.F. Commander to Act on Audit

John Saldivar

Lieutenant Colonel Charlton Roches remains sidelined from active duty in the Belize Defense Force, pending a decision by the incoming B.D.F. commander, Steven Ortega, on the status of his employment.  Roches is the subject of an investigation launched by the Ministry of Defense into transactions conducted by the senior officer through a private company he established to provide training for the German army.  The Audit Department was tasked with providing a report, following an accounting of business done on behalf of Belize Jungle Experience Limited.  According to Minister of Defense John Saldivar, the request to have an audit conducted came at his request.

John Saldivar, Minister of Defense

“First of all, I think it needs to be highlighted over and over that it is my ministry, myself and my C.E.O. that asked the Audit Department to go in to do the audit.  They have given us their report and we are following the report and its recommendations and those are being implemented, and most have been implemented already.”

Reporter

“Okay. Will Mr. Roches remain as a B.D.F. soldier?”

John Saldivar

“That is to be determined by the general at some point in time.”

The audit report recommends that systems be put in place to separate private business from that transacted on behalf of the Belize Defense Force.