33 new recruits join the B.D.F. Brigade
Their motto is: “Shoulder to Shoulder” which represents their ability to work and play together as team. Well today some new members were added to take up that challenge as soldiers in Belize’s army. Isani Cayetano trekked to Ladyville to bear witness and files this report.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
Recruit Intake Number Fifty-Three, the latest addition to Belize’s military outfit, was formally inducted into the rank and file of the Belize Defense Force today at the Sir Colville Young Parade Square in Price Barracks, Ladyville. The admission of thirty-three able men into an ever-growing army comes at a time when they are much needed in assisting the police department with tackling the issue of crime and violence. Their primary task nonetheless is to secure Belize’s territorial sovereignty. The last four months have seen these men prepare themselves for the task that lies ahead.
Lt. Col. David Jones, B.D.F. Chief of Staff
lt. col. david jones
“They have been doing jungle warfare exercises, they have been doing field craft training, live firing [uhm] unarmed combat and military knowledge they have learned throughout the seventeen weeks. So this is a culmination of what they have learned and at this time we are honoring four of the recruits that have been given awards. We have a champion recruit, a champion field craft, a champion physical fitness and a champion shot. These are recruits that had excelled throughout the training and today we’re honoring them with the awards that they have received.”
Standing in for Minister of Defense, Carlos Perdomo, was Minister of Police and Public Safety, Doug Singh.
doug singh
Doug Singh, Minister of Police
“The Government and people of Belize trust that the BDF will continue to do an excellent job of keeping our country safe and secure and to remain vigilant in maintaining our sovereignty and territorial integrity. We must be cognizant of the National Security Strategy of Belize and the important role and involvement expected of all law enforcement agencies in its implementation and in this regards you will be expected to take on lead roles and responsibilities.”
Their obligations also include the carrying out of humanitarian efforts such as those conducted in Haiti following a massive earthquake that devastated the island in January.
Lt. Col. David Jones
“This is a show of solidarity and commitment to strengthen our relationship with our regional partners. The performance of the Light Engineering Company in Haiti has been exemplary and has made the B.D.F. and our nation proud to have such men and women representing us outside our borders. We’ve had the company of the engineers on the square. [Uhm] they were the Light Engineer Company who participated in the humanitarian work that they did in Haiti. [Uhm] they provided three thirty-day rotations so they did a total of ninety days in Haiti doing reconstruction of schools and buildings while in Haiti. They did an excellent job and they have been commended today for the efforts that they have performed.”
Locally those efforts have equally proven successful in searching for and destroying marijuana plantations, a growing problem that is also being addressed by the B.D.F.
Dough Singh
“Since January of this year the B.D.F. in joint operations with the police has destroyed over two hundred thousand marijuana plants. This is a great effort in the struggle to reduce the amount of drugs being consumed by our society.”
The Belize Defense Force which was formed in 1978 has held fifty-three induction ceremonies to welcome its intakes, today’s being one of several that is all-male. Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.
this is good but these numbers are way too low for our military i say again to help fight all this crime in belize we should have a mandatory draft any one 18 and older who is not in school should be inducted into the bdf this will give them decipline and keep the youth from becoming gang members also in this day and age we need a bigger defence force with all the drugs and gangs moving in and through belize. come on udp please do something right for a change.
that is good more recruits to protect our country. I understand there will soon be more police added to our country soon. I hope that these people are coming in to make a difference and not to coming in to do the same the old ones are doing. I hope that they are coming in the force to protect their country and save their country from all the crime. They have to remember, if they sell a gun to a guy, that gun could be used to kill their own children, cousin, mother sister brother, or someone very dear to them. Lets hope and pray that these new people joining the security forces are coming in to make a difference and to hussle and currupt the department more.
“Well today some new members were added to take up that challenge as soldiers in Belize’s army. ”
Hello…Belize does not have an army, we have a defence force. Crime prevention is not the primarily role of the BDF nor should it be. The BDF are not trained in law enforcement techniques they only assist the police department. The last BDF that shot and killed a criminal while conducting police duty is serving time for murder at the Hattiville prison because of stupid and useless rules of engagement inherited from our grandparents that are still in place. Respect to the BDF.
i want to join the bdf but i already hit my 30 so i am trying to join the volunteer since 2007 if i could join the regular force at this age i would join i know i am fit enough. in england the age to join the regular force is 18-34 and the volunteer or territorial 16-45 and you would be suprise how mant people join.
i would like to just make a comment why do this recruit have to be racial i have try however cant be recruited am willing to take the training am physical fit and want to join the army recent graduated from high school. and willing to go be stand by and finish the training i wonder if i could be recruited i could be contact at 6332278 i really want to help my family with financial.