B.D.F. receives million dollars in equipment from U.S.
The B.D.F. has had a good day, both to its inventory of equipment and to its human resources. Despite the downpour this morning, a ceremony was held at Price Barracks where the B.D.F. received over a million dollars in equipment and scholarships for three soldiers worth more than half a million dollars. The three cadets will study at prestigious military institutions, all courtesy of the U.S. Government. News Five’s Duane Moody was at the handing over ceremonies at the Price Barracks in Ladyville and he has this report.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Despite a sizeable donation of equipment, the big news was about scholarships awarded to three recently recruited cadets of the Belize Defence Force. The all expense paid scholarships will land them places at prestigious military universities in the U.S.
Jack Diffily, Charge d’Affairs
“Equipment has no heart and no soul so the big item was announcing that fact that we have two Belizean candidates for the United States Naval Academy and we also have a candidate for the United States Coast Guard Academy.”
Ciardi Glenn, Scholarship Recipient
“I’m proud of myself for achieving said goal and I’m honoured to represent, Belize at the U.S. Naval Academy cause to my understanding not every year people get accepted into this academy.”
Alma Pinelo, Scholarship Recipient
“I’m very honoured and I’m very excited and I’m ready to go to school.”
Duane Moody
“What is it that you intend to learn when you go there?”
Alma Pinelo
“Anything they can teach me and I really want to learn more about the marine and environmental sciences that they offer there.”
The other recipient is Adrian Bosh. The B.D.F. also received over one point two million dollars worth of equipment to assist the Special Assignment Group and the Light Engineer Company of the force. According to Commander of the B.D.F., Brigadier General Dario Tapia, the donation comes in handy.
Brigadier General Dario Tapia, Commander, B.D.F.
“We received twelve all terrain vehicles, six tough books Panasonic laptops, ten Horace radios, a total of ninety flock jackets, body armor, some overhead projectors some printers and copiers for the office of the Belize Special Assignment group.”
Duane Moody
“How was this made possible sir?”
Brig Gen Dario Tapia
“This was made possible through two funding, one the gifts we received for the Belize Special assignment group was done through the 1206 funding from the department of defense and also through the global peace operations initiative fund to equip the light engineering company for their mandated task.”
The U.S. Charge de Affairs, says that this donation will bolster both the U.S. and Belize’s fight against crime and transnational terrorism.
Jack Diffily
“It demonstrates that we are serious partners with Belize—we’ve been friends and neighbours for many years and we’re also partners in the fight against crime and trans-national terrorism. So all this equipment will help to strengthen Belize’s own defenses.’
Brig Gen Dario Tapia
“What you’ve experience is another generous donation from the government and people of the United States to the Belize Defence force which we are very grateful because its only through these donations that we continue to enhance the capabilities of the B.D.F. and certainly our human resources.”
Seven other soldiers are enrolled in various military universities. Duane Moody, reporting for News Five.
Five soldiers have already completed studies at West Point, Naval and Coast Guard Academies. There are twenty-four scholarship opportunities available yearly to Belizeans.
