B.D.F. officially marks thirtieth birthday
We’ve followed them through the jungle, over mountains, across rivers and even into a Guatemalan jail. Today, however, News Five’s Marion Ali watched the soldiers of the Belize Defence Force as they paraded in celebration of three decades of service.
Governor General, Sir Colville Young
“Thirty years ago Belize saw the need to begin the development of a defence force to preserve the territorial integrity of our country once independence was attained. In December 1977 the House of Representatives and the Senate of Belize enacted the Defence Ordinance that paved the way for the formation of the Belize Defence Force on the first of January 1978.”
The initial enrollment of the Belize Defence Force stood at sixty, made up mainly of elements from the disbanded Police Special Force and the Belize Volunteer Guard. Thirty years later, it is made up of two regular infantry Battalions, a support and services battalion, an air wing, maritime unit, special assignment group and a volunteer battalion.
Brigadier General Lloyd Gillett, Commandant, B.D.F.
“We have over the years gotten our people trained at the best schools abroad. We have dedicated soldiers who are volunteer soldiers unlike other armies where there are conscripts and I think the fact that we have not been invaded by another country has to do with the respect other people have for the B.D.F.”
Sir Colville Young
“Belize had been on the brink of an armed conflict with Guatemala. The infant B.D.F stepped into that precarious time to prepare for their role in defence of our country’s independence and territorial integrity along with the British military presence.”
“The B.D.F. is now a combat-ready, equipped and dedicated force capable of providing a credible deterrence to internal and external threats to ensure the full sovereignty of Belize.”
Today the soldiers paraded in celebration of the anniversary at Price Barracks. Medals were awarded for long service and good conduct. But along with the Force’s achievements come some serious challenges.
Lloyd Gillett
“A lot of the budget is actually to pay salaries, very little in terms of equipment. But we hope that over the next couple years that will be addressed because that creates problems for us. For example, we don’t have any organic helicopters in getting to the border and coming back is a severe challenge. We need to spend more time along the border so that we can deter more of those illegal activities that are happening.”
The B.D.F. has cordial ties with many of its foreign counterparts, including the U.S. That mutual relationship was evidenced just this week.
Lloyd Gillett
“This was primarily training equipment for the Light Engineer Company that we’re training to be a response force in Belize and also if the government so chooses, it can send them to operate in Central America or beyond Central America. In many of those countries there are lots of land mines that were laid. So if we were supposed to—if we are sending our people abroad we need to train them for all contingencies. Train them if they find a mine how to disarm it, how to secure it so they’re not injured.”
On hand to help celebrate the achievements and anniversary today were some future soldiers from Queen Square Primary School.
Reporting for News Five, Marion Ali.
Saturday is B.D.F. day, with a fair being held at Price Barracks, beginning at ten in the morning.
