With elections a little more than two months away at the outside, virtually every public appearance by any politician is a campaign opportunity. Today, while taking part in a Christmas tradition at Price Barracks in Ladyville, Prime Minister Said Musa served up some good news to the Belize Defence Force. News Five’s Janelle Chanona has […]
They have a proud history and today the members of what was once called the Volunteer Guard paused to honour some of their own. Marion Ali, Reporting This afternoon members of the Belize Defence Force Volunteer Element gathered at their headquarters near the Lord Ridge Cemetery in Belize City to pay tribute to their comrades […]
As cayes go, they don’t get much nicer than Calabash. But while its beauty is worthy of a spread in National Geographic, the buildings going up on its white sand beaches are not part of any five star resort. News Five’s Janelle Chanona has the story. Janelle Chanona, Reporting This morning, official ground breaking ceremonies […]
It’s not a profession that everyone finds attractive, but as pay and benefits improve and opportunities for training increase, the Belize Defence Force is becoming a viable career choice for many young men and women. News Five’s Janelle Chanona met some of our newest soldiers this morning. Janelle Chanona, Reporting With much fanfare, this morning […]
This morning, the eighty-third recruit squad marched ceremoniously across the Arthur Adolphus Parade Square as they officially graduated from the Police Training Academy. Over the last six months, the seventy-three men and six women have endured intensive physical and mental training in technical and academic subjects so their last test was easy as the recruits […]
Police today used the arrests as one of the few bright spots in a presentation to the media on their efforts to cool off the situation in the city. Gerald Westby, Police Commissioner “We are using a carrot and stick approach, we’ll lick you hard, the criminals who want to continue wanton violence.” ACP Allen […]
The resources of the Belize Defence Force may be stretched thin following the damage caused by Hurricane Dean and the scare of Felix, but the soldiers are determined to present the annual National Military Tattoo on Friday evening. This year’s event will open with a skydiving demonstration and the fiercely competitive football game between the […]
And while shoppers were stocking up, the police were busy planning how best to secure the city when people leave their homes to seek shelter. At a new conference this afternoon the Acting Officer Commanding Eastern Division, Sr. Superintendent Chester Williams, announced a curfew beginning at eight o’ clock this evening. Sr.Superintendant Chester Williams, Eastern […]
Having already tasted the tension, not to mention the tear gas of civil strife in the nation’s capital, Benque Viejo, Tower Hill, and downtown Belize City, the Belize Police Department is no stranger to crowd control. Today that experience was shared with some other uniformed services with an eye toward the near future. Jacqueline Godwin, […]
We’ve followed them deep into the Chiquibul Forest and to the top of Baldy Beacon. Today, although the surroundings were less exotic, the B.D.F. volunteers were no less enthusiastic. Kendra Griffith, Reporting “Dispersed across the Santa Cruz Lodge here in the Corozal District are some four hundred members of the volunteer element of the Belize […]
In many parts of the world you join the army because you can’t find a job anywhere else. In Belize, however, the B.D.F. is rapidly becoming the employer of choice for those seeking a first class education. News Five’s Janelle Chanona reports from Price Barracks. Janelle Chanona, Reporting For the next three weeks, twenty officer […]
The United States has been a significant ally to Belize’s armed forces on land and on the high seas. Today, Uncle Sam made another major donation in cash and kind to the Belize Defence Force. News Five’s Kendra Griffith reports. Kendra Griffith, Reporting This morning the Belize Defence Force took possession of seven hundred thousand […]
Today marked the official wrap-up of Tradewinds 2007, the training exercise in which Belize hosted a thousand soldiers from fourteen Caribbean countries plus the U.S.A. and U.K. At closing ceremonies this evening at Price Barracks, Defence Minister Cordel Hyde noted that the mission of the region’s military has changed in recent years and the training […]
Today was the day that soldiers, seamen, and police officers from around the region got to show off their recently honed skills. News Five’s Kendra Griffith has the latest from Tradewinds 2007. Kendra Griffith, Reporting Today over fifty officials from the sixteen countries participating in Tradewinds 2007 were given a tour of the activities. Lenroy […]
Our coverage thus far of the annual Tradewinds exercise has focussed on things like crowd control, hand to hand combat, and emergencies at sea. But tonight, the military men show their softer side through music. Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting In collaboration with the Governor General’s Music in Schools Programme, for the past week high school students […]
The military exercise known as Tradewinds 2007 continued today, but while most of the multinational force trained in the heat and dust of the mainland, one contingent of participants headed out for the blue. News Five’s Kendra Griffith was aboard. Kendra Griffith “Out on the water today these coast guards will be practicing BECC’s, Basic, […]
Watching the natural disasters that routinely parade across the screens of international T.V. newscasts, it becomes clear that the world’s military forces do far more than fight wars. That’s why the uniformed men and women now in Belize are not just shooting guns. Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting The training participants are part of the contingent taking […]
Belize’s military forte may be jungle warfare, but over the next two weeks the Caribbean, U.S., and U.K. troops gathered here for the annual Tradewinds Exercise will focus on other important skills. News Five’s Kendra Griffith had a front row seat. Kendra Griffith, Reporting Today Price Barracks was abuzz with activity as soldiers participated in […]
With a strong sense of regional cooperation already forged by the hosting of the Cricket World Cup, the integration spotlight this week shifts westward as CARICOM military personnel converge on Belize.
A Belize Defence Force aircraft made an emergency landing today and while the plane likely suffered heavy damage, all eight passengers and crew were unhurt. The drama infolded around three this afternoon when the twin engine Britten-Norman Islander, en route from Punta Gorda to the Philip Goldson International Airport, experienced difficulties and was forced to […]
They fixed the teeth of hundreds of school children and they’ll soon complete construction of new classrooms. But in between those good deeds will come the more traditional functions of a modern army. Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting We have heard a lot lately about the U.S. military’s humanitarian projects in Belize. But what armies are all […]
For the next two days, soldiers from the Caribbean, the United States, and the United Kingdom will be in Belize to put the finishing touches on plans for Tradewinds 2007. The annual military exercise is being hosted by the Belize Defence Force and will take place over fourteen days in May. This week local organisers […]
They may be bogged down in a debilitating war in Iraq and an increasingly dangerous situation in Afghanistan but that has not stopped the United States military from carrying out its humanitarian commitments in other parts of the world … like Belize. Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting In three months, these Belize Defence Force Soldiers and United […]
It is no secret that the Belize Defence Force and the United States army have a strong working relationship. Only last week, the New Horizons programme was launched and next week U.S. soldiers will be in Toledo conducting a Medical Readiness and Training Exercise. Later this year the B.D.F., along with the United States Southern […]
‘Tis the season for Christmas parties and dinners and the Belize Defence Force is not immune to the festive epidemic. But unlike other events, today the soldiers at Price Barracks were served by some extremely over-qualified waiters in the form of Prime Minister Said Musa and Minister of Defence Cordel Hyde. Brigadier Gen. Lloyd Gillett, […]
