Fired! BDF Dismissed for 42 Missing Weapons Debacle
James Requena
At least three B.D.F. soldiers will not be having a good Christmas. That’s because a decision has been handed down in respect of forty-two weapons, handguns and high-powered weapons that were discovered missing in mid October. The B.D.F. revealed on October twelfth that an arsenal including twenty-two M-sixteen A1 rifles, two M4 commander rifles, eleven nine millimeter berretta pistols and seven M4 carbine rifles were stolen from Price Barracks. There was a window of twelve days between the last check of the weapons bulk storehouse and the exact date of the heist has not been established. A report, penned by CEO in the Ministry of Defense Allen Whylie, suggested that four officers should be suspended. The four were sent home on administrative leave. That list included B.D.F. Deputy commandant Javier Castellanos who chaired the press conference following the discovery of the missing weapons. News Five spoke to BDF Chief of Staff, Lieutenant Colonel James Requena about the ruling of the commission
Reporter
“I understand that a decision has been made by the security services commission regarding the officers who were recommended to be placed on suspension regarding the missing weapons?
Lieutenant Colonel James Requeña, BDF Chief of Staff
There was a meeting by the security services commission. Our office hasn’t gotten anything written as yet and until that we are unable to comment on it.
Reporter
Though a decision has been made regarding their status, you can’t comment since you haven’t been officially informed.
Jose Sanchez
“Can these men be charged criminally?”
Lieutenant Colonel James Requeña
“Any member of the defense force can be charged criminally once an offense is committed. Police called in to do parallel investigation along with us. We do internal investigation s as to minimize the reoccurrence of such incidence and to see where we are short and put in the corrected measures.. If there is criminal evidence, police will recommend to DPP, any member including myself as a chief of staff can be charged.”
Jose Sanchez
“As I understand you haven’t received the information but we have been reliably informed Mr. Castellanos and the other officers have been recommended by the security services commission to be relieved of their duties but they could be still back on the force if they have a successful appeal?”
Lieutenant Colonel James Requeña
“Any BDF member has the right to redress. That includes whatever judgment is given from security service. They have redress of complaint and they can go as far as and they can go as far as the Privy Council.”
The three others are technical Quarter Master Sergeant Roy Flores, Force Field Officer Capitan Damian Amaya and Lieutenant Awardo. Sources have confirmed that the Security Services Commission has met and decided that three if not all four officers will be fired from the BDF. News Five contacted BDF Brigadier General Dario Tapia as well as Acting Minister of Defense Doug Singh, but they could not comment since the decision of the Security Services Commission had not yet been shared with the officers involved in the case.
I think the buck stops at the top — the Minister. If he cannot organise the BDF to protect its own weapons, he should go.
“Sometimes it’s necessary to hang an Admiral to encourage the others.” Voltaire.
And why hasn’t the general been fired too, he is most of all responsible for the force enpt behavior.
So your B.D.F Deputy of how many years has been fired for what crime? Firing your staff for something they did not do is wrong. 42 weapons that the same police could have stolen. General should be fired for not doing his job correctly, not knowing how to handle situations at ALL! This is an abomination seeing good men being fired for something they did NOT DO. Learn how to pick your commanders and generals better. Stop fighting against each other, and go out there and find the bad guys, the criminals. Everyting is about politics, but you should be worried about your own people! Killing innocent people is a crime, but we don’t see people going to jail for that; but solders being fired for no reason, now that’s a crime now?
Wow! Amazing now the perpetruators get away and the ones trying to guard the stuff with little they are provided get the blame. That’s why i aint in Belize.
politricks
at work
Well…WE ALL KNEW IT WAS AN INSIDE JOB!!!
I believe Belizeans would rather unu tek uno time to investigate in that window of 12 days any man could have hid weapons or stashed sales. Ex soldiers may turn mercenaries (not referring to ours). Lotta people were careless here admit it learn get stronger scape goating shud be avoided. God bless u to make wise decisions.
how did these so called ‘security council’ come to such a stupid decision! The only decision these stupid fools should do is to provide the funds that’s desperately needed for the bdf to do their jobs effectively. Look at that building…i bet the big bad wolf just got to blow once for it to crumble down. Lol. No kind a security u can be guarding here & they will enter at the other end. what a security!
Hey the thieves are out there laughing, they looking at how the bdf is weakening themselves by firing there best! That’s what they want. AUTODESTRUCTION!
By the way what goes around comes around you who fired those men on xmas you gonna have your fair share.
Chris parts of your comment does not make much sense! You refered to the guys that stole the weapons as “there best” well my friend if they are the best we have the forse is already weak so firing them is a very good thing!
I agree with the part about better security because securing the weapons should be rule one and much security breaches should have had to happen to gain access to weapons instead of one padlock: this is a joke. What is worse there is no daily check on the weapon storage. No rocket science needed!
CEO dont know who the heck are you but if u saw with your very eyes anyone of them stealing…fire them! But by the LIVING GOD if you are pointing fingers at the wrong one may your tongue just cease in your damn mouth because you are accusing one of my very own blood. I know him and he grew believing in GOD, dont know about you but verily I say to u your end wont be too good and it ain’t coming from man! I dare the guilty to come forward and declare themselves if they got the balls!
CEO dont know who the heck are you but if u saw with your very eyes anyone of them stealing…fire them! But by the LIVING GOD if you are pointing fingers at the wrong one may your tongue just cease in your damn mouth because you are accusing one of my very own blood. I know him and he grew believing in GOD, dont know about you but verily I say to u your end wont be too good and it ain’t coming from man! I dare the guilty to come forward and declare themselves if they got the balls!
At CEO, you dont know anything that is going on ok! Firing them was not a gud thing! This man Mr. Castellanos has served the country with everything he’s got!ok! this meant leaving his family for 24 years to sacrifice himself for this country!
At Chris, you said it right my friend. He is the best they have in the Force!
At CEO, i don’t want you to faint or anything.lol. but i have news to tell u! MR.CASTELLANOS HAS HAD A SUCCESSFUL APPEAL, SO THAT MEANS THAT HE CAN GET RE-ENSTATED IF HE WANTS! IF YOU DONT KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, IMA TELL YOU! HE CAN GO BACK TO WORK IF HE WANTS TO! HE WON HIS APPEAL, THEREFORE HE GETS ALL THE BENEFITS HE IS SUPPOSED TO GET!! IN YOUR FACE!! THIS IS AN HONEST MAN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT!AND ITS VERY UNFAIR THAT U JUDGE HIM WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING HIM! WELL, MY FRIENDS, LOOK AT YOUR NEWS AND FOLLOW IT!OK! THE BIG FAT PIG MAN TAPIA CANNOT EVEN RUN DOWN A THIEF IF HE SEES ONE BECAUSE OF HIS ENORMOUS SIZE! GOD BLESS MR. CASTELLANOS AND I AM VERY PROUD OF HIM BECAUSE HE FOUGHT FOR JUSTICE! OPEN YOUR EYES, BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY CROOKS IN THIS COUNTRY…HOWEVER, THE GOOD PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS PROSPER!