Category: Security

There’s a shake-up in airport security across the country. Police officers are once again stepping in to secure Belize’s domestic aerodromes after the government pulled the plug on contracts with private firms iSecurity and Four Diamonds. But here’s the catch, this move is putting even more pressure on an already stretched police force. So, what’s the long-term plan to keep our airports safe without burning out our officers? Prime Minister John Briceño weighs in.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“What we have done is to be able to ask the police and the airlines to be able to provide the security for the time being. The board is meeting and sorting out discussions. I need to meet with the management of the BAA. They asked to meet with me but I have not been here these few days, to see what is the way forward. Obviously it has to be advertised. Last time it was but with limited tendering. This time it is going to be open to everyone and see who could give us the best proposal.”

Following the dramatic hijacking of a Tropic Air flight on April seventeenth, the government moved quickly to tighten airport security—but now, questions are being raised about how one key contract was awarded. A company was hired in the aftermath of the incident, but eyebrows went up today when it was revealed that there’s no public record of a tendering process. That sparked concerns about transparency and fairness in the awarding of government contracts. When pressed on the issue, Prime Minister John Briceño acknowledged that he knows the owner of the company but offered little else. “That’s as much as I can say,” he told reporters. The lack of clarity has fueled speculation and criticism, with some calling for a full explanation of how the contract was granted and whether proper procedures were followed.

 

Reporter

“Sir, who is I Security and what’s Ian Cal’s relationship to you and to other politicians in the north? He got the contract to provide airport security, no tender given.

 

Prime Minister John Briceno

“ Well, I think that’s something you need to go and talk to the people at the B.A.A.”

 

Reporter

“You appoint them, Sir.”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“But I can tell you, I do know Ian Cal and that’s as far as I can tell you.”