B.D.F. Contemplates Approach to Removing Illegal Guatemalan Cattle Ranch

While the Guatemalans have not set up illegal cattle ranches at Barrio El Juda, they were successful in doing so in other locations deep in our lush jungle near the border. Lieutenant Colonel Burns revealed where the Guatemalans have set up these illegal pastures and what the B.D.F. plans to do about it.

Jermaine Burns

Lt. Col. Jermaine Burns, Chief of Staff, B.D.F.

“This cattle-ranching issue in the Cebada, Caballo, Valentin areas have been happening for some time now – two years or more. It has grown into a grave security concern. You push back and then it comes back, and you push back and it comes back. Our initial strategy that I shared with the media a few weeks back was to destroy the fences that were enclosing these cattle on our side, but you’d see where the cattle would wander into the Belize side without the fencing. We found it necessary to meet with the F.C.D. to discuss this. I know our Future Plans Officer is meeting today with F.C.D and someone from the National Secretariat to discuss – or the National Security Council – to discuss the strategy that has been written. Once we get it approved at that level, then it’s only to get boots on the ground to address the issue.”