Government Puts Meal Money in BDF Soldiers’ Pockets

Feeding the Belize Defense Force has become a costly logistical challenge, prompting the government to put the money directly into soldiers’ pockets. Prime Minister John Briceño, who assumed responsibility for the Ministry of National Defense after Florencio Marin Jr. stepped aside amid the “Mira Millions” scandal, says each soldier now receives seventeen dollars a day to cover meals. He says the arrangement addresses an immediate need and even allows soldiers who live off base to save part of the allowance.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“What’s important is that we have very competent leadership at the BDF. CEO Francis Usher, he’s really good, and he was an officer in the BDF and he understands defense. And so, I tend to allow them, they are the technical people, you know, I am not the technical expert, they are, and he comes and gives me reports. But, one important thing that we have done, and we started this month, is that we’ve moved away from feeding the BDF. It’s gotten way too difficult to manage, not only from the ministry, but even from the BDF, from the different camps. So, we are giving them their food allowance. So now every month, every BDF is going to get, I think seventeen dollars per day. Secondly, what we have done is, we have the commandant and their people negotiating with food vendors to set prices and what you’re coming to sell. We’re not going to allow you to sell chips to the BDF. So they are negotiating prices so a number of vendors can go in and sell food during lunch break. Thirdly, whenever you go on patrol, you are going to get your ration, plus your seventeen dollars that you get, so you’ll be able to save. The next point, fourthly, very important point… CEO Usher was the one that pointed out to me that most soldiers don’t stay on camp, they go home. And so, if you go home, you can bring home sandwich, you can prepare lunch and so you can even have more savings.”

 

The new system gives soldiers greater control over their meals, while the BDF maintains oversight of vendors, prices and food choices.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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