Junior Minister Elodio Aragon Says We Will Do Better
Elodio Aragon
This evening, National Security top brass, from northern area representative, former senior cop and Minister of State Elodio Aragon Junior to Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie issued statements on the troubling state of affairs. In the case of Aragon, the Orange Walk East representative, he acknowledged that with every plane landing, Belize’s reputation takes a hit regionally and internationally. But it will take effort from all arms of the security forces – Police, B.D.F. and others – to put an end to the situation.
Elodio Aragon Jr., Minister of State, National Security
“These incidents, they are not good for any country, and definitely the Police Department are looking at strategies on how to counter these things. We must realize that we live in a strategic point in Belize; in terms of the world, South America and North America, we are at a very critical and strategic point for drug trafficking. And these incidents – this is not the first time these incidents have been happening; some come to light and some don’t come to light. But at the end of the day, it is an important issue for the Belize Police Department, for the Ministry of National Security, because we are talking about national security and definitely it concerns us. I know that the senior minister and other senior people were meeting in terms of looking at specific goals and objectives to try to curb and deal with this situation. It is something we have to deal with; it is something that we are not too glad to have and I think no nation likes this kind of stuff; but it is the reality of things right now and we have to deal with it, one way or the other. People have clandestine airstrips all over the place at times. I know the military has to get in and assist, etc… But I do think that we have to begin and look on the technologies that can assist us. We don’t have a radar in this country. We look at our counterparts in Central America, they all have radars and Belize doesn’t have as yet. And these things are timely information because planes land and take off. For us to act on these information, we have to have the proper intelligence, the timely information to act upon. Not having those things takes us some time. In that business it is all about timing. We are concerned about. Definitely the Ministry of National Security is looking at it and we will see how we will work to curb that situation.”
Andrea Polanco
“So, Minister, we don’t have information on the persons who are operating this – what seems to be a drug ring – operating over – in Belize?”
Elodio Aragon Jr.
“Well, those kinds of information we cannot pass that on to the media otherwise so it is limited.”
Andrea Polanco
“Does the Ministry have any idea of who are these people who seems to be involved in what appears to be a very active drug business in Belize?”
Elodio Aragon Jr.
“Well, you know definitely there is information out there but these things cannot be made public. All I will say is that the Ministry of National Security under which we have Coast Guard, B.D.F. and Police now, is looking into that information.”
Andrea Polanco
“So, Minister, we have no information on that plane that landed yesterday; have you been apprised?”
Elodio Aragon Jr.
“Well, I have no details other than what you already know. But like I told you earlier, a meeting was held today to look at some of strategies to be employed, so we are looking at that.”
While Aragon himself was not at the meeting, he confirmed that Civil Aviation will also play a role in the investigation.
