Minister of National Security Addresses B.D.F. Readiness

John Saldivar

Minister of National Security John Saldivar attended a pair of emergency meetings on Friday, including a session with the upper echelon of Belize’s security forces.  Later that afternoon, he convened a meeting of the National Security Council where Prime Minister Dean Barrow participated via teleconference.  While the diplomatic aspect of the Belize/Guatemala issue is essentially a foreign affairs matter, Saldivar says his ministry has its hands full preparing for whatever may become of the ongoing debacle. This morning, he told us about the B.D.F.’s state of readiness over the course of the weekend.

John Saldivar, Minister of National Security

“Several things, one I met with the high command of the security forces on Friday and was given a brief on the situation at that time.  We also looked at our readiness and preparedness for whatever eventualities and I was convinced that we were ready and prepared.  During the weekend we just kept updating, our intelligence apparatus was working and we were just trying to see what the Guatemalans were doing, whether they were following through on the various statements that were made: troop buildup, more patrols in the Adjacency Zone and so on.  So we kept monitoring the situation and thankfully we did not see any of that materialize on the ground.”

Isani Cayetano

“As the Minister of National Security and of course a member of the National Security Council, what has been your role, albeit a very pivotal one, what has been your primary role in all the negotiations and of course the mobilization of either local military assets across the country?”

John Saldivar

“My role as minister and certainly the ministry’s role is basically to keep our forces ready and prepared for whatever eventuality.  In terms of dealing with the Guatemalans, that’s a foreign ministry function between the two countries.  But generally, my role and the role of my ministry is to ensure that our military is prepared.”