B.D.F. 2-day hike to border to change with new vehicles

The Belize Defence Force received a donation from the Ministry of National Security today and it will be most appreciated by the soldiers who have to patrol the remote areas along the border. Many persons may not be aware, but the soldiers who patrol the Machaquilla area, must endure a two day hike to reach their post while Friends for Conservation and Development has been assisting with weekly deployments to Rio Blanco. But three new trucks and a tractor handed over today will allow the B.D.F. to send more troops out in less time, and make the patrols more efficient. B.D.F. Commandant, Brigadier General Dario Tapia, and Minister of National Security, John Saldivar, say there is also a bigger donation still to come.

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

Dario Tapia

“What happened this afternoon is that Minister Saldivar handed over to the B.D.F. three Mahindra pickup trucks and one John Deere tractor. This is part of another batch that will be handed over later down the road; some additional six Mahindra vehicles and another tractor. The Mahindra vehicles will be used to do administration and also to be able to patrol the border areas and inland patrol as well. That will be the purpose of the Mahindra. In terms of the tractor, as you all are aware, we lost the capability of the helicopter to insert us deep in the jungle in a short possible time. We have been trying and trying other things; the ATVs have proven to be a little difficult because the terrain is difficult out there. So we made a proposal to the government of Belize and I’m glad that the prime minister was able to approve for us the acquisition of this John Deere tractor and another one that will come down later on to be able to transport our troops to insert and extract them to the remote observation points along the border. At the moment, when the soldiers walk, it takes days, the ATVs it almost takes a day. With the tractors, it has been prove that we can get to an area within six hours so it cuts down dramatically because of the nature of the terrain. So that is the whole purpose of the tractor. Obviously we will get a trailer as well that is being constructed at the moment so that we’re able to put troops and equipment in the trailer to get the troops deep into the remote areas.”

John Saldivar

John Saldivar, Minister of National Security

“It came about as a result of some of the needs that were expressed to me very early when I took over the ministry of National Security. The B.D.F. is in need of several vehicles so that they can get around the country better, so that they can patrol our borders better. And this is only the beginning; within another two months we should be getting another seven vehicles for them and after that I believe we’ll be properly able to mobilize around the country.”

Delahnie Bain

“Alright, are there any other—I mean I know that apart from vehicles, there may other needs within the force for other equipment.”

John Saldivar

“At this present moment, we’re trying to complete the jock building; it’s a building right here on the Price Barracks compound which is to house our joint operations center, which will be a center that will have the police, the B.D.F., the Coast Guard, Customs, Immigration; all the main security agencies that will help to carry out joint operations across the country for national security purposes.”

Today’s donation is valued at around two hundred and eighteen thousand dollars. Saldivar says they managed to cut down on the ministry’s bills and expenses to invest in the vehicles.