Soldier wants justice

Leslie Roberts

Passing the exams should have meant an automatic promotion for Roberts from as far back as December 2009. But after inquiring about why his documents were not submitted, he still wasn’t promoted; instead he was discharged from his duties a second time. Roberts says he still hasn’t received his official walking papers but he has been told that it’s because his exam was ten days late.

Leslie Roberts

“On the twenty-first of February last month, I was working at Camp Belizario in the Cayo District and I was called into the commanding officers office at three p.m. in the afternoon and I was verbally informed that the Security Services Commission has approved my discharge for the second time. So this is the second time in two years that I was being sent home under the recommendation from Mr. Tapia. There are two other serving officers who are presently in the force who passed their exams one year after the deadline and two years after the deadline. Now Mr. Tapia will recommend my discharge just for ten days after the deadline.  Up to date I have been sent home for forty days, from the twenty-first of February, today is the thirtieth of March. Forty days I have been sent home, I have been fired verbally, my pay has stopped and I still cannot get anything in black and white stating that the security services commission has approved my discharge and on what grounds. I intend to take legal action again and I intend to have my attorney file a lawsuit, not only against the government of Belize but against Mr. Tapia because to me it seems as if he has singled me out and targeted me and has victimized me for the second time. So that is what I intend to do. And I can’t believe after fourteen years of serving my country and going out on the border line, I can’t believe that they would treat me in this manner after I have given all my youth to the force and to the government and to the country of Belize.”

Roberts plans to seek reinstatement yet again because he says he is only four years away from being eligible for the gratuities and pension he has earned for his service. We tried to contact B.D.F. Commandant, Tapia but we were told he was not in office.