US Embassy hands over a new fleet of vehicles to the police
The police department today received a hefty donation courtesy of the United States Embassy. It involves a brand new fleet of vehicles valued at more than two million dollars. The US Charge d’ Affaires, Margaret Hawthorne, says that the heavy duty trucks will be used to improve citizen security. News Five’s Isani Cayetano was on hand for the ceremonies.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
A fleet of thirty-eight vehicles, mostly Ford F150 heavy duty trucks, was today handed over to the Belize Police Department by the United States Embassy. The donation, valued at approximately two and a half million dollars, is part of the Central American Regional Security Initiative (CARSI). The vehicles, which have been deployed to various parts of the country within the department, will see an increase in mobility, visibility and quick response.
Ret. Col. George Lovell, C.E.O., Ministry of National Security
George Lovell
“It is important that we continue to demonstrate that we are committed to do our part to ensure effective use of the aid to meet our objectives. For that we must take the necessary steps to ensure good husbandry of these gifted vehicles and have them serve us for a long time. Care must be taken to manage our now acquired resources in a sustainable manner and most importantly we plan and execute our operations bearing in mind our budgetary limitations. I know that we have thirty-eight new vehicles that have been assigned to us but I, as the accounting officer, must be real when it comes to the logistics to ensure the effective use of these vehicles. I do not have and neither does the Government of Belize’s Ministry of Finance does not have a bottomless pit from which we pull our financial resources.”
The reality is that after a few months a great deal of those vehicles will have already been experiencing the effects of wear and tear. Their deployment across the country will see them complimenting an existing nationwide fleet.
Allen Whylie
Allen Whylie, Commissioner of Police
“As the C.E.O. said in his remarks, it’s not a bottomless pit the Ministry of Finance has for these things but we believe that despite the fact that they are six and eight cylinders they are new vehicles so they should be highly efficient in terms of fuel. As I said, the commanders will have to ensure that they are properly utilized to ensure that there are no wastages. As I said in my comments they are issued to various sections and they are to be used for official duties, they are not to be taken home and we believe that once the commanders ensure proper command and control and movements of these vehicles we should be able to maintain them within our budget.”
Thus far, previous vehicles donated through CARSI have assisted tremendously in facilitating mobile patrols in Belize City, resulting in a significant decrease in crime. That particular example has led to an expansion of the initiative.
Margaret Hawthorne
Margaret Hawthorne, Charge d’ Affaires, U.S. Embassy
“These vehicles are actually designed for citizen security here in Belize. They are designed to help the police department provide the secure environment in which people can grow and prosper, can open businesses, do business and so it has a huge impact on economic development and on people’s wellbeing when they have a secure environment in which to operate. So these vehicles are really designed again for the people of Belize to help the police department, community policing and quick response time so that the police can get, when somebody makes a call the police can get there quickly.”
Since 2009, the United States Embassy has implemented over fifteen million dollars in CARSI-related initiatives in Belize. Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.
Here come the Americans, throwing more money down the rat hole.
You figure after giving money, guns & gear to the police, and 25% a year later is stolen, lost or wrecked they would learn a lesson.
But here come the dumbasses again, more money than brains.
O say can you see anything?
Hey Maggie figure this out:
Belize is #3 murderous country in the world.
Put out a travel advisory not to go to go to Belize, vacation in Congo or Syria instead.
Keep propping up this criminal govt like you did in Guatemala, nurse it to civil war.
Americans, like they know something, surprised they know Belize exists.
Powerful and stupid.
More nice rides to go bar hopping and play smash them up while murder and mayhem takes over Belize.
Hope the USA put GPS internet tracking and listening bugs on them to see how their money is wasted.
The US Embassy must know that any materiel, material, and equipment addition to Belize Police Department or to any government department will significantly improve operations at least for awhile. These vehicles must not be used for personal uses. The police department must provide a budget for the vehicles operation and maintenance if these costs are not included in the gift. Make certain the drivers really know how to drive. The taxpayers in USA will want to know how their money is spent to promote democracy and civilization.
No matter if you give 100 million to this country if will all be wasted because when you have a corrupt pm and gov. Nothing will change so you are wasting your time in Belize. Do not give this pm and country nothing else because this pm and gov. Are nothing but thieves and murderers if you want to really help this country bring out all the information you have on this corrupti. Pm and gov. So that they can be locked up why do you keep supporting a pm and gov. Who keep stealing and murdering their own people we do not want your help to make this thieving murderous gov. Look good because you the us are contributing to this farse corrupt gov.
Let’s see how many of these vehicles survive until the end of THIS year…
Awesome, just keep up on the required maintenance on them and they will serve you well.
These vehicles are not for personal use let us remember that. Let it be as was designed for the safety of the community.
How long will you take to break these up due to lack of proper service and reckless driving of police officers as well as them being used for personal use, like one Ladyville police officer who’s paying rent for a couple of the illegals at a house at 8 miles Western Highway? We keep begging and borrowing from all around the world and we keep going backwards. Disgustin!
These guys don’t need more vehicles.What they need is proper training.
I watch USA news channels, all the US schools with needs or shut down, Military Veteran’s hospitals with needs, Cities such as Detroit and many others that are in need, US homeless, families of Veteran’s, victims of 9/11 and the lists goes on, all in need. Makes you wonder why the US Embassy would continue to assist this GOB with anything? rampant corruption, drug trafficking contraband smuggling, human trafficking, money laundering, police acting as criminals, Christmas Cheer, Mothers Day Cheer, all this; as if we are governed by a organized criminal gang? You think the US taxpayers really knows where there money is going? What is the hidden agenda of the USA for Belize?????