BDF to change commandants

The Belize Defence Force will soon have a new commanding officer. A release from the Ministry of National Security today announced that Brigadier General Robert Garcia will be stepping down as commandant to be replaced by Colonel Cedric Borland. Garcia joined the BDF in 1980 and has led the force for the last three years. Borland, who also joined the army in 1980, is currently serving as Deputy Commandant and will be promoted to brigadier prior to the change of command on October sixth. Borland is the fourth Belizean to serve as commandant of the Belize Defence Force. His predecessors in addition to Garcia have been Earl Arthurs and Alan Usher. Students of history will recall that General Garcia, long before he reached that rank, played a key roll on Independence Night, 1981. He is pictured on the right side of the screen, sword in hand.