G.O.B. donates truck/engines to Coast Guard

For the past two years, the members of the National Coast Guard Service have been patrolling Belizean waters but our limited resources are no match for the expanse of the high seas. However, thanks to significant contributions from the U.S. Government and other donors, the Coast Guard’s assets have been steadily increasing. This morning, the Government of Belize handed over a new utility truck and two outboard engines to the guard.

Ismael Cal, Minister of State, Home Affairs
“The government of Belize is committed to ensuring that our waters are protected from any form of threat including drug trafficking, human smuggling, weapons trafficking, terrorism, illegal fishing, destruction to our barrier reef system, and any other potential threats that may impact on the economical development and prosperity of this nation.”

Commandant Cedric Borland, Belize National Coast Guard
“We had only one truck that is now disabled and so this is going to take up all the responsibility of that one truck that we had. Despite the major part of our operations is at sea, we do need a truck to transport equipment, men, and for towing the boat on land. So it’s going to be a great part of our support.”

Marion Ali
“How were you operating without the truck?”

Commandant Cedric Borland
“Well I’ll be honest with you. Over the past two months or so, we have been getting some support from B.D.F. and the police in movement and that has worked well because we have good cooperation with them. But now having our own truck means that we can do our own movements.”

“These two new engines that we have received is the first of four-stroke type engines that we are looking forward to. This is more fuel economic, it’s quieter, and it’s highly reliable.”

There are currently fifty-six men and women enlisted in the Coast Guard Service. The truck and the two outboard engines are valued at approximately one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars.