Transport Department Graduates Second Cohort of Officers

Behind the daily roadside checks and traffic stops, lie weeks of rigorous preparation. Over the past three weeks, transport officers from across the country have undergone intensive training to sharpen their enforcement skills and strengthen their professionalism on the job. Today, the Department of Transport marked the graduation of its second cohort of officers, a milestone that highlights a stronger partnership with the Belize Police Department and a unified approach to traffic enforcement. News Five’s Britney Gordon has more details on the ceremony.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Every Belizean wants safer roads to travel on and better officers to safeguard lives. But without proper training, enforcement can become difficult as new rules are introduced and procedures change. Today, the Department of Transport proudly marked the graduation of its second cohort of officers. Minister of Transport, Dr. Louis Zabaneh, shared how this event marks another step toward safer roads and stronger public confidence.

 

Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transport

“What we are asking you to do is, in the first instance, to change your own behavior, right? We shouldn’t be asking anybody to do anything without we ourselves being willing to do it. So we at this level should be prepared just as you are to learn and to improve our own selves if we are to expect you to do that on a day-to-day basis. So we start there behavioral change, and that means that the train that we’ve gotten should be empowering us to be different now than we were before. Otherwise the training has had no impact.”

 

Ensuring that Belize’s roads remain safe for all to travel, is not a one-man job; it requires multi-sectoral collaboration, particularly between transport authorities and the Belize Police Department. Minister of Home Affairs, Oscar Mira, emphasizes the crucial role that officers play in this mission.

 

Oscar Mira, Minister of Home Affairs

“As enforcement officers, you play a frontline role in protecting lives. Every ticket, every stop. Every inspection can make the difference between order and chaos between life and strategy. Belize needs officers who act with integrity, firmness, and fairness. The public must know that when they encounter a transport officer, that they meet someone who is respectful, consistent and unshakeable in your honesty.”

 

The graduates underwent three weeks of professional development training. A key focus of the training was instilling discipline and professionalism in the officers. Commissioner of Police, Dr. Richard Rosado, encourages all participants to step into the line of duty with renewed confidence and a determination to protect and serve.

 

Dr. Richard Rosado, Commissioner of Police

“It was deliberately structured to enforce your authority with clarity, competence, and discipline. Every session, every exercise, every challenge placed before you were designed to elevate your judgment, sharpen your decision making, and prepare you to perform your duties with assurance and professionalism.”

 

The ceremony highlighted the Ministry of Transport’s commitment to creating a safer, more disciplined, and service-oriented transport system for Belize. Britney Gordon for News Five.