B.D.F. is Official Election Day Courier of Ballot Boxes

David Jones

The security of ballot boxes during elections is paramount in safeguarding the integrity of the voting process.  With Belizeans going to the polls to elect a new government next Wednesday, the Belize Defense Force has been tasked with the transportation of ballot boxes to and from polling and counting stations across the country.  The Elections and Boundaries Department has officially called on the B.D.F. to act as its courier, moving dozens of ballot boxes across all thirty-one constituencies.  According to Brigadier General David Jones, the mandate is quite simple, his men are only responsible for the delivery of the ballot boxes after which they will remain on standby should they need to assist the police department in maintaining law and order.

Brig. Gen. David Jones, Commander, B.D.F.

“The B.D.F. has been requested to transport ballot boxes from one location to the other.  That is all that we are going to do, we are going to transport them.  Names are going to be submitted as to who all are the names of the soldiers that are going to be involved in it.  Whichever location they ask us to pick them up and transport them we’re going to do it.  Apart from that we’re not going to be involved in any incident in regards to the voting per se.  We will only be on standby in case there is any security issue we’ll be there ready to support the police if there is any internal security issue.”