Military Tattoo returns Friday
It was once a fixture of the September celebrations and a popular one at that. After disappearing from the programme for a while the military tattoo is back…and once again it looks like a winner. Patrick Jones has a preview.
Patrick Jones, Reporting
It’s not the battlefield of some far-flung war zone. But the sound of rapid fire at the Marion Jones Stadium indicates that the country’s military is primed and ready to defend the nation’s sovereignty. These soldiers, along with officers of the police department, national fire service and BATSUB will be conducting manoeuvres as part of a revived military and uniformed services tattoo.
Director of the programme, Lieutenant Colonel Reynolds Lewis says Friday¡¦s event will give the public a rare look at how the four institutions interact to maintain law and order, save lives and property and secure our borders.
Lt. Col. Reynolds Lewis, Coordinator, Military Tattoo
“In doing that there is a series of displays that will be conducted, and those displays include mock battles done by the BDF, a joint public order demonstration, done by the police and the BDF, aerobatic displays and also fire rescue just to mention a few of them that will happen.”
The programme will open with the BDF air wing, after which the fire department will spring into action with a hose drill.
A silent drill will show the soldiers power of concentration ?m and the police K-9 unit will show off the working relationship between officers and their dogs to disrupt illegal activities such as drug trafficking and firearms violations.
Commandant of the Belize Defence Force General Cedric Borland, who watched rehearsals from the bleachers, says this weekend’s tattoo will demonstrate the soldiers’ state of readiness to carry out their duties under any circumstances. Although tonight’s practice featured a rappel from a fire truck, on Friday night a helicopter will be used.
Cedric Borland, Commandant
“You will be able to see some soldiers in some combat operation. You will also be seeing them in a supporting role for the police. In addition to seeing them do some of their field skills that they have been taught.”
When it comes to fire and rescue, the national fire service will demonstrate how it goes about saving life and property.
But perhaps the most dramatic part of the programme will be a showdown with a group of protestors that tests the ability of the police and BDF to successfully put down a riot.
Lewis says the revival of the military tattoo after years of dormancy is a welcome addition to the September celebrations.
Lt. Col. Reynolds Lewis
“Over the past few years we have not had a tattoo however in the interim for four or five years thereabouts we had the street parades. This year the commandant and also a former Minister of Defence had decided that we should go in the direction of having a tattoo instead. A tattoo initial discussion was very receptive by all the department heads, namely the fire chief, and the commissioner of police and the commanding officer for BATSUB and hence the reason now that we are having this display.”
Patrick Jones, for News Five.
The gates at the Marion Jones Sporting complex will open three thirty on Friday afternoon with pre-activities to include informational and commercial booths. The official events begin at five thirty. Entrance fee is four dollars adults and two dollars children.
