Caye Caulker Becomes Front Line for Coast Guard Operations

Help on the water is about to get a whole lot closer. Today on Caye Caulker, the Belize Coast Guard officially opened a new forward operating base, one that promises faster responses when every second counts. Sitting squarely between the mainland and Ambergris Caye, the new base puts Coast Guard crews right where they’re needed most. From search‑and‑rescue missions to maritime emergencies, officials say response times in northern waters will drop significantly. And it’s not just about emergencies; the base also tightens security in a corridor vulnerable to drug trafficking and other illegal activity. The Coast Guard is strengthening its grip on Belize’s northern seas. News Five’s Shane Williams was in Caye Caulker for the ribbon cutting and has our report.

 

Shane Williams Reporting…

Caye Caulker is growing fast, not just as a tourist hotspot, but as a community. And with more people, more boats, and more activity, come real concerns about safety. That’s why village leaders decided to bring security closer to home. The Caye Caulker Village Council partnered with the Belize Coast Guard, offering space inside its newly renovated community center for a permanent forward operating base. Chairlady Seleny Villanueva‑Pott says the Coast Guard’s presence sends a clear message: Caye Caulker is safer, for residents, visitors, and investors alike.

 

Seleny Villanueva-Pott, Chairman, Caye Caulker Village Council

“I believe the entire community will feel more relieved and more sense of security, especially on the sea. We’ve been hearing reports of pirating where fishermen have complained of people going into their waters intimidating them. So I believe it provide an essential part of security for our community, specifically our fisher folks. I know when our tourists or visitors see this they feel more at ease, so it definitely sends a good message.”

 

Rear Admiral Gregory Soberanis, Commandant of the Belize Coast Guard, says the new base reinforces national security and gives the Coast Guard a stronger operational footprint near Caye Caulker and other major investments.

 

Rear Admiral Gregory Soberanis, Commandant, Belize Coast Guard

“This base is strategic in the sense that it’ll not only support the community of Caye Caulker but when you go even further south you have significant investment on Caye Chapel as well and some of the other surrounding islands as it relates to the environment. So it’s not only law enforcement, it’s also the conservation efforts. It’s also the illegal fishing. So this area of operation for us is key and critical in ensuring that we have good maritime stewardship and good maritime governance of the resources in this particular area.”

 

Minister Florencio Marin Jr. says the base is part of a wider national effort to put more law enforcement eyes and resources along Belize’s coastline.

 

Florencio Marin Jr., Minister of National Defense and Border Security

“This is part of our own, our overall national security strategy to increase the presence of our security forces through the country. And the Coast Guard does have some law enforcement capabilities. And working in collaboration with the police out here, they were able to protect our maritime waters and if necessary, assist the police in their work here. We are trying to expand as much strategically. Of course, we can’t cover all the islands we have. So finally in working close collaboration with the Area Representative, Minister Perez, our Chairlady Miss Villanueva-Pott we finally now have a nice working space.”

 

The Belize Coast Guard is stationing eight officers and a patrol vessel on Caye Caulker around the clock, reinforcing security in one of Belize’s fastest‑growing destinations. Shane Williams for News Five.

 

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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