Chamber of Commerce beefs up security for Trade Expo
Concerned over the escalating acts of violence, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry is working closely with authorities to beef up security at the annual Trade Expo, set for this weekend. The event, which traditionally attracts thousands of visitors, will open on Saturday at the Saint John’s College compound in the West Landivar and will end on Sunday. Today, both the organisers and police say the event will offer a full slate of deals in as safe an environment as possible.
Crispin Jeffries, Assistant Commissioner of Police
“Annually we police the event and we police the event with a number of police officers that we consider adequate in view of the recent incident, we’ve stepped up our numbers and we’ve added to that an additional amount of armed soldiers and their demolition team. We’re looking at locations where these people will be positioned to work. We’ve looked at the parameter security and the other ground security and we consider that what we are putting in place will definitely step up the security arrangement by at least a hundred percent.”
Major Ganey Dortch, Chief of Staff, B.D.F.
“Over the recent days we have seen a number of incidents happening in Belize city and as a result of that we have been directed by the ministry to further assist the Belize Police Department in up-tempoing the security arrangements for all these festivities during the September celebrations. We’ll have various men allocated to the Belize Police Department who will help with parameter security and also quick reaction force.”
Omar Ortiz, Manager, Business Development
“This year the expo has definitely grown. We’re upwards of a hundred and twenty-five groups if not more if I can recall correctly. Participating companies are also up. Everybody is very much excited, people are already milling around setting up. The event opens Saturday morning but really and truly we’ve been working for the last week in ensuring that we have the premises ready so that people can come in. I think all the business community, a significant portion is coming out from all over the country; from north, south, east and west and they’re all coming to ensure that Belizeans cow that they’re here providing quality goods and services for whatever the needs are.”
Marion Ali
“And the security like they mentioned?”
Omar Ortiz
“Clearly, because of the recent threats we have had calls from both participants, companies, and the public as to what we are doing and so we’re taking the extra precaution.”
The Expo will feature well over a hundred booths from businesses all over the country.
