Belize Defense Force Open Day

The Belize Defence Force is one of the smallest militaries; it boasts just over a thousand men and women. In celebrating thirty-three years, the B.D.F. today rolled out an impressive list of accomplishments. That includes delivering on its main duty to defend our borders to working along with the police in anti-crime initiatives. In between there were international assignments and now it will have to bridge the gap left behind by the departing BATSUB. News Five’s Delahnie Bain reports.

Delahnie Bain, Reporting

The men and women of the Belize Defense Force portrayed utmost discipline at this morning’s ceremony to mark the B.D.F.’s thirty-third anniversary. It was the first event of a two day celebration and it got underway with the usual inspection of the force and parade.

Brigadier General Dario Tapia, Commander, B.D.F.

“Today marks our thirty-third anniversary since the formation of the Belize Defense Force and essentially that’s what we’re celebrating today with the official parade and later this evening the reception will be hosted by the Minister for the dignitaries, the foreign visitors. Tomorrow is the open day where we open the camp to the Belizean public to participate in our festivities.”

carlos perdomo

Minister of Defence and Immigration, Carlos Perdomo, noted the many achievements of the force, particularly in the past year when the crime rate gave the soldiers extra work.

Carlos Perdomo, Minister of Defense & Immigration

“Since seventeenth, of May 2010, the B.D.F. increased its support to the Belize Police Department on the streets of the old capital to combat the upsurge of crime. Many soldiers are currently working above and beyond the call of duty on these ongoing operations. For the reporting period last year, the B.D.F. has destroyed a record two hundred and eighteen thousand marijuana plants and one thousand nine hundred and thirty-eight pounds of compressed marijuana. They played instrumental roles in the recent joint operation that led to the confiscation of a Super King Air Beech Craft Airplane and the confiscation of over two tons of cocaine.  With the recent announcement of the BASTUB draw down and the re-deployment of their helicopter support through the remainder of the year, it will be more challenging for us in the B.D.F. to execute our territorial integrity duties but with your professionalism and dedication to duty and wit the support of your government, we will overcome this hurdle.”

dario tapia

Meanwhile, Brigadier General Dario Tapia, the B.D.F. Commander, is especially proud of the formation of three new units.

Brigadier General Dario Tapia

“The Belize Special Assignment Group, the Belize Special Boat Unit and also the Light Engineer Company. The Light Engineer Company was deployed last year for the first time and they did exceptionally well in Haiti. We got a lot of praises from the people that they went to work with in Haiti and so I think those are the recent achievements and units that we have added that really make us proud and let us look good.  We have soldiers who have served twenty-two years service who got a certificate for distinguished service. You have to serve twenty-two years to get that certificate. Also soldiers were receiving long service and good conduct medals so you have to be in good standing for twelve years to be awarded that medal.”

And if the achievements, discipline and uniformity of the force, was not enough to impress those in attendance, the Belize Special Assignment Group put off a display that certainly did the trick. Delahnie Bain for News Five.

On Saturday the celebration continues with an open day at Price Barracks to which public is invited. Entrance is free of cost.