Women’s Commission Joins Investigation into Suicide of B.D.F. Micah Miguel

Brigadier General Azariel Loria

The Belize Defence Force has been faced with a number of tragedies in recent weeks. While with Brigadier General Azariel Loria earlier today, he was asked for an update on the investigation surrounding the death of B.D.F. Micah Miguel. She was on suicide watch just ahead of the tragedy, which was later compounded by allegations that she had been sexually assaulted at Price Barracks.  Loria told the media today that a full investigation is being conducted on this case and that the National Women’s Commission has joined in on the inquiry.

Brigadier General Azariel Loria, Commander, B.D.F.

“We knew that Private Micah Miguel was having mental problems and she was getting treatment from our mental facility, our counselling section. She attempted to take her life last year and she was being monitored and she was given further counselling by our psychologist. When I was told that she committed suicide, I ordered an investigation. But in my mind the investigation was a court of inquiry on what led to her doing that unfortunate step that ended her life. Later on, more allegations came up so the Women’s Commission decided to take part of the investigation, which we readily accepted. It is a joint investigation that we are doing at present. Our investigation is ongoing. It’s an internal investigation that we are doing jointly. They have had a meeting with the acting chief of staff and I believe that the next step is to have that investigation going. I have not been formally told; I only saw it in the news that the police department is also conducting their own investigation so that is external, which is welcomed because we want to find out what is the real cause of that tragedy, correct and continue to improve.”