Belize Defense Force to receive salary adjustments in 2014
George Lovell
While the police was spreading cheer today, the year 2013 is ending with a bang for the Belize Defense Force. According to the C.E.O. of National Security, there will be many changes and upgrades in 2014 for the force. One in particular was good news for the soldiers. Retired Colonel George Lovell used the event of the B.D.F. Christmas Luncheon on Wednesday to announce that the officers will also benefit from a salary adjustment.
Ret’d Col. George Lovell, C.E.O., Ministry of National Security
“A defense security review will be completed in 2014 which will be used to chart the way forward for the Belize Defense Force in its peace and wartime mode. Early January, hopefully by mid-January of 2014, you will see a drastic reduction in the Belize Force’s presence in the streets alongside the police. Our forward operating base in the north of the country will hopefully commence so that we can work jointly with the other law enforcement agencies in the fight against crime and violence. This hopefully will be a platform from which rapid response against the various threats will be addressed. As mentioned by General Jones, we will continue our dialogue with our friendly partners: the U.S., the British, our Taiwanese friends, the Canadians and even the Colombians and other Central American and Caribbean States to help in our capacity building and other efforts to make Belize, and the region that we live in, safe from organized crime. The last two things that I want to mention which will strike at home is that the ministry will adjust the pay scale for the Belize Defense Force and this will come not just as an adjustment, but also to cater for the extended years in military service that we will afford so that people don’t have to leave too early and struggle out in the streets trying to find an additional engagement. The government has already announced a salary increase for public officers with effect from April which will be issued out in July of 2014; that increase will also be made available to members of the Belize Defense Force.”
Recruit intake fifty-seven will also soon be inducted into the force as officers.
