B.D.F. Commended for Peacefully Defending Belize’s Borders

In the weeks leading up to Belize’s forty-fourth Independence Day celebration, tensions are high between Belize and Guatemala, but Belizeans are standing firm in their right to sovereignty and freedom. Following several encounters with armed Guatemalan forces, Prime Minister John Briceno commended the work of the Belize Defense Force in protecting Belize’s borders peacefully. Today, we spoke with Brigadier General Azariel Loria, Commander of the B.D.F., for more details on the ongoing operations.

 

Brigadier General Azariel Loria, Commander, B.D.F.

“It so happens that the Sarstoon island  is recognized as part of Belize. And that is what we’re doing, we’re we keep on patrolling. That is what the Ministry of National Defense and the government of Belize, they’re requesting from also to continue to conduct that kind of operations and to be respectful over to the Guatemalan side with the Guatemalan armed forces and we keep on patrolling. And as of yesterday, I think that there was some Guatemalans patrolling. They keep on patrolling and we keep on patrolling on our side too.”

 

Reporter

“Unobstructed?  So prior to the tenth, the BDF was still going up the Sarstoon?”

 

Brigadier General Azariel Loria

“Yes. We were going up the Sarstoon up and down without any problem.”

 

Reporter

“And since then, no problems either?”

 

Brigadier General Azariel Loria

“Up to now we have not been reported of any obstruction.”

 

Reporter

“Can you say if your orders to the BDF have been to defend Belizean life at the Sarstoon during the trips of the Belize Territorial Volunteers?”

 

Brigadier General Azariel Loria

“The Prime Minister has spoken on it that as Belizeans, we  can move anywhere we want in Belize. We’re free to do but we have to be cognizant of the fact that there is a situation down at the Sarstoon and we would ask all, anybody that wishes to go there, to do so with caution. And we will continue to ensure to protect where we could. But it is a volatile situation right now. And we do not we do not want to request the Belizeans but just for them to be careful if they so wish to to venture into that part of the of our country.”Brigadier General Azariel Loria, Commander, B.D.F. I have to be proud of my soldiers, my troops. They have done well. We provide them with our operational intent, our based on our capabilities, our resource that we have. And they have done a tremendous job. They have done a fantastic job, nothing short of heroic. So I am proud of them and I take the opportunity to voice to them, that as a commander of the Belize Defense Force, I’m so proud of them. Really proud of the work that they have done.”