U.S. donates guns, ammo to B.D.F. anti-terror squad
They fixed the teeth of hundreds of school children and they’ll soon complete construction of new classrooms. But in between those good deeds will come the more traditional functions of a modern army.
Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
We have heard a lot lately about the U.S. military’s humanitarian projects in Belize. But what armies are all about are guns and bullets … and that’s what was handed over today. The latest donation was presented this morning to B.D.F. Commander, Brigadier General Lloyd Gillett. The gift includes fifty-four M4 Carbine Rifles, fourteen thousand forty millimetre high explosive rounds, twelve-forty millimetre grenade launcher scopes, forty-six thousand nine millimetre rounds, body armours, and breaching tools. The weapons and supplies will be used to help arm the newly formed counter terrorism platoon known as B.S.A.G., the Belize Special Assignment Group.
Brigadier Gen. Lloyd Gillett, Commander, B.D.F.
“During the National Security Formulation Process, we identified that one of our strategic security goal was to safeguard Belize from terrorism and so we needed to develop a capability that would be able to respond to terrorist incidents, be that kidnapping or any other type of incident that require a set of trained specialised forces to undertake it.”
Robert Dieter, U.S. Ambassador
“Belize, because it is a small country and because it has lacked a capacity to confront these threats, it is seen by us as a bit vulnerable in that regard. So these weapons that we are giving to the B.D.F. are to be used not only by their counter terrorism platoon, but also generally in the B.D.F. as they carry out their mission to secure the borders and ensure the territorial integrity of the country and carry out their mission to secure the safety of its citizens.”
Although the U.S Army and the B.D.F. have long enjoyed a close working relationship, the last few years have seen much increased cooperation.
Robert Dieter
“To be quite honest with you, the military people who have been coming down here over the past few years, have recognised that the B.D.F. is a very capable institution and it needs support. They are professionally trained and they have a good sense of their mission, they have good leadership, and so it’s easy to support an institution that is functioning well and carrying out a well defined mission that enhances the country, you know integrity and helps the people of Belize.”
Brigadier General Lloyd Gillett
“The U.S. benefits by being able to train in Belize. Even though they are conducting humanitarian exercises, it’s part of their on going training. We also this year, the B.D.F. is running a Jungle Warfare course for members of the U.S. marines and so they will come to Belize go into the jungle and we will train them because they have lost that capability in their forces. They use to have a base in Panama which closed down a couple years ago, so they are keen to develop jungle fighting skills again and so the B.D.F. will be helping them in that process.”
Today’s donation is valued at over two hundred and seventy-seven thousand U.S. dollars.
In June, the U.S.S. Comfort, a hospital ship, is scheduled to arrive in Belize. The Belize Special Assignment Group, which has already received training from the Canadian armed forces, will be also benefit from sessions with the British and U.S. military.
