U.S. Coast Guard conducts training

This past week members of the United States Coast Guard conducted a “Boarding Officer Course” for members of the Belize Defense Force, the Belize Police Force, Port Authority, Customs, Immigration and Fisheries Departments. Hyacinth Latchman reports.

Twenty-nine participants came to the Fiesta Inn this morning to receive their certificates from the United States Coast Guard. The week-long course was intended to provide law enforcement personnel with the skills to uphold the laws on the sea as well as in the ports. Instructor Fernando Gutierrez told us about the course and the feedback he got from the participants.

Fernando Gutierrez, U.S. Coast Guard

“The course is definitely about boarding procedures. How to go aboard a boat, search it, make sure they do initial inspections. Make sure that the boat is safe for the team to be there. And, then they do inspections, safety inspections. They do safety inspections, look for safety hazards, contraband and this could help you because Belize is right between the United States and South America which is a major trafficking route.

We’ve been getting a lot of positive feedback from the students we had from all the agencies. They say they benefited from the training.”

The participants feel that the course will help them in the future.

Euan Gillett, Customs Department

“What I find out from the course, especially short courses like these, is that it’s very informative. It provides us with a tool so that in executing our duties we will be more readily equipped to deal with situations especially when we are out there in the field.”

Pastor Curt Bradley, Belize Port Authority

“Eight of us from the Port Authority were invited to come and attend this course. And, seeing that we work with the Belize Port Authority, dealing with boarding and shipping, this should better equip us to work and to help in the war against crime and drugs and the sea.”

Belizeans have participated in many courses in the past offered by the United States. Ambassador from the United States to Belize, Carolyn Curiel, says this week’s training certainly won’t be the last for Belize.

Carolyn Curiel, U.S. Ambassador to Belize

“This is the first training while I’ve been here with this team, but we have had training courses in the past that matched this. I believe there was one in ’92 and there was another one in ’96 or ’97. But this is the first with this team here. The enthusiasm level has been very high. I think you felt it in the room and so we want to do it again, yes.”

Hyacinth Latchman for News Five.