Colonel Javier Castellanos: is he in or out of the B.D.F.?
Javier Castellanos
The fate of Colonel Javier Castellanos, as a ranking officer in the Belize Defense Force, hangs in the balance tonight. The Belize Advisory Council, chaired by Attorney Lionel Welch, has already determined that he is to be reinstated as the deputy commander of the B.D.F. On Tuesday, the Belize Advisory Council, essentially comprised of government-appointed members, set aside an initial decision by the Security Services Commission to relieve Castellanos of active duty, following the theft of a cache of weapons from the armory at Price Barracks in October 2011. The judgment calls for Castellanos’ return as the second in command of the B.D.F. with all benefits awarded to him. But tonight, the former officer remains a civilian and chances are that he won’t be wearing a soldier’s uniform anytime soon. During a meeting with C.E.O. in the Ministry of National Security, George Lovell, earlier today, Castellanos was told that government intends to challenge the decision of the Belize Advisory Council in the Supreme Court. According to Castellanos, a move is being made to veto the outcome of his appeal.
Col. Javier Castellanos, Former Deputy Commandant, B.D.F.
“The meeting with C.E.O. Lovell, he informed me that although the decision has been made by the Advisory Council to reinstate me that the Government of Belize will challenge it. [G.O.B.] will apply to the court that the decision of the Advisory Council be overruled.”
Isani Cayetano
“Did he offer a reason as to why they have decided to overrule what the Advisory Council has decided upon?”
Col. Javier Castellano
“He is saying that it is a part of the process and procedure, just like any other situation where somebody has the right to appeal and then the appeal is ruled in their favor and the defendant or the appellant can then counter that appeal. So they are, in other words, appealing the decision of the Advisory Council that ruled in my favor.”
Isani Cayetano
“This will now be ventilated in the Supreme Court. Are you prepared to carry through with this legal battle now against the Government of Belize?”
Col. Javier Castellanos
“Well it will certainly [play out like that.] If it will have to go to the Supreme Court that is where we’re going to take it because they have not honored the decision of the Advisory Council and most of all, yes my name was exonerated but you must remember that I have served this country for twenty-four years. I have not received any entitlement nor benefits so even if you are saying my name is cleared [then] okay, thank you very much but what will happen to the twenty-four years that I have served this country?”
Isani Cayetano
“Do you feel at all slighted or disrespected by the actions of the ministry now to challenge the ruling of the Advisory Council to stay you from being reinstated?”
Col. Javier Castellanos
“Of course! This is disrespect on behalf of the Government of Belize, disrespect by the Ministry of National Security to an officer who has served this country for twenty-four years, no respect! All the decisions that have been made have been made behind my back. They should have the decency and respect to call me in and inform me of what decisions they are making.”
Isani Cayetano
“What is your legal counsel saying? I’m almost certain that he is also aware of the fact that there will now be a challenge in the Supreme Court with regards to your reinstatement and the decision subsequently. What is he saying?”
Col. Javier Castellanos
“Well he is awaiting the document from the government before he can challenge it and then we move on through the legal procedure to challenge it at the Supreme Court.”
Castellanos initial appeal before the Belize Advisory Council was heard on July thirteenth; Attorney Godfrey Smith represented him. So tonight, despite a decision to reinstate, Castellanos is still in the cold.
Aha, finally we are doing something right! Reinstating this fool is an invitation to losing more BDF weapons.
How could a highly trained soldier allow weapons to disappear on his beat? Where are these weapons? And you are going to reinstate this wannabe army man?
You can take the jackass to the well but …………………… oh well, you know the rest.
hahahhahaha..let me just laff at your stupid comment Uncle Benji..ayyayay…u dont know what the hell ur talking about babey..jaja…this man is a highly, professional, soldier, but he aint God. ur gonna tell me that all the blame should be put on him?? You’re a dumb a**…, what about the commandant??huh?? why he no tek the blame fi this??ah?? but let me tell you something, Justice will be served for Mr. Castellanos. the people that are talking bad about him will soon realize that no one has the right to judge anyone! if you don’t know what is happening in your country, then its best that you keep your comments to yourself! U and the rest of people talking bad about the Deputy Commandant, are the Jack***es..! God Bless!
How can you say he is highly professional if he failed to do many of his duties while he was deputy. A highly professional soldier doesn’t fail to hand in reports for many weeks. You are talking good professionally about someone you don’t know professionally. What does that make you, Kristy? Your bad language also makes your point seem poorer.
Let me tell you something, he was more than the deputy, every time fat @$$ Tapia was not in, he left all the work halfway and Mr.Castellanos had to clean his mess! why he no show his face with the incident that occurred with the Shooting of the Xateros?y?? because Mr.Castellanos was the one who always had to put his face for this incompetent man. Mr. Castellanos had responsibility to the Commandant, he handed in all his reports, but because Mr. Tapia is so huge, he couldn’t get up off his chair to submit them.ok., that does not make Mr.Castellanos responsible for anything. haha..u make me laff when u say that I don’t know Mr.Castellanos professionally. You don’t know who I am, so don’t try and use that as something to uplift yourself with. My bad language??haha..ayayay..funni.. I speak how I want, if you got a problem deal with it! ok! and as soon as Mr.Castellanos goes through the Supreme court, I will come back and laugh in your face! Peace!~ God Bless ya still!! jaja…
Let me tell you some more information, so you gain some knowledge before you talk, He is not a wanna be soldier, he is a professional soldier, who served for 24 years with distinction to this country, Former AIDE DE CAMP to his excellency the Governor General of Belize, SIR COLVILLE YOUNG, former military attache to the embassy of Belize in Guatemala.
Holder of long service and good conduct MEDAL and ONE of the THREE officers HONORED with the FIRST class MEDAL “MONJA BLANCA”, by the Guatemalan Army.
NOT EVEN GENERAL TAPIA HAS THESE ACHIEVEMENTS. HE IS AN OFFICER, who was trained at the most ELITE military schools, academies and numerous professional military courses with the BRITISH, US, MEXICAN AND CANADIAN ARMED FORCES.
MR. CASTELLANOS HAS SEEN AND DONE AND BEEN TO PLACES WHERE IN YOUR LIFETIME WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO OR SEE NOT EVEN IN YOUR DREAMS.
WITH THAT SAID, I HOPE YOU GET YOUR INFORMATION RIGHT BEFORE YOU CRITICIZE AND HONORABLE SOLDIER OF THIS COUNTRY.
YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY’VE BEEN THROUGH, AND IT WOULD BE REALLY APPRECIATED IF YOU WOULD KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO YOURSELF!
GOD BLESS!