National Security Tightened Amid Fears of Criminal Infiltration

The government is moving to tighten the country’s most sensitive defenses amid growing concerns about internal threats. Prime Minister John Briceño says new measures are on the table to protect national security systems from criminal infiltration, including mandatory vetting and even polygraph testing for those with access to classified information. It’s part of a broader push to close potential gaps before they can be exploited.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Madam Speaker, Belize is constantly under security threats both internally and externally from criminals in particular. More and more our security forces become vulnerable to be able to the issue of corruption that these people coming into Belize and even locally, some of the gangs we are dealing with in Belize are no longer the ones in a street corner. These people have lots of money and guns with them and they pay for security and information and now as we have been trying, we are beating up the National Security directorate, now the council and we have been doing quite a lot of work. So the proposed legislative framework is to provide stringent vetting including polygraphing of the National Defense Directorate. It is the first of its kind in Belize and underscores the commitment of this administration to root out corruption that ignores, facilitates and at times actively support criminal activity, including drugs and weapons trafficking.”

 

The National Security Council serves as the government’s central advisory body, guiding decisions on national security, sovereignty, and public safety.

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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