National Coast Guard break ground for new headquarters

The Belize National Coast Guard is moving from its old location at the Williamson Complex to a new two-million U.S. dollar headquarters at mile four on the Western Highway. Ground was broken today for the multi-million dollar project, which is being funded by the U.S. government in cooperation with G.O.B. in the fight against trans-national crimes. The building is part of a five year development plan and Commandant for the Coast Guard, Admiral Cedric Borland, says that the new headquarters is part of a network of facilities to be built in Belize.

Admiral Cedric Borland, Commandant, Belize Nat’l Coast Guard
“About three years ago, we had a five year development plan which included the construction of a new headquarters facility. We are now seeing this becoming a reality. This project is being funded by the United States Government and we expect the construct will commence a couple of week.”

Duane Moody
“What is this headquarters going to house?”

Admiral Cedric Borland
“The headquarters is going to house the command and control of the Belize Coast Guard. The function is really to have the logistics, the administrative and the operational facilities here. As the close proximity of the sea, we will be able to launch the our vessel out for emergency in a shorter time, we’ll be able to respond to any illegal activities out there and, as you can see, we are over looking the harbour, so any activities that occurs in there we will be able to respond to that. But we are excited about this project. In addition to this main headquarters, we have a further operation based out in Calabash Caye which is nearing completion. We expect about in a month or so to inaugurate that facility and as I mentioned earlier we are looking at two other facilities; one up San Pedro and one down in one at Big Creek. Now when we have all these facilities in place the maritime domain completely covered by the Belize Coast Guard.”

The building will take an estimated eighteen months to complete and the maritime network of facilities should be in place by 2010.