The Belize Defence Force and the Belize National Coast Guard today
received a one – point – two million Belize dollar donation from
the U.S. government. For the Coast Guard, it means six much needed new outboard
engines to replace the ones that have been running for the past 4 years. U.S.
Ambassador Robert Dieter explained
Robert Dieter, US Ambasador
“We’ve been instrumental in helping to establish the Coast Guard
over the last few years and today we’re providing them with I think six
250 horsepower motors and several 150 horsepower motors to beef up their capability
with their boats etc.”
Admiral Cedric Borland, Coast Guard Commander
“These engines are actually going to replace some of the aging engines
we have that we are presently using. Much of our efforts actually are along
the lines of not only drug trafficking but illegal fishing at sea and safety;
we put a lot of emphasis on safety. Over the past two years we have saved many
lives at sea so while the US is supporting us with these equipment, we are sure
that, they are assured and the government of Belize is assured that these equipment
that we are receiving are actually for the benefit of our people.”
Brig. Gen. Dario Tapia, Commander – BDF
“This is about the third donation we have received for the Engineering
Company which includes tents, tools, tough book laptops for when they are operating
in the field, so that we have now equipped the Light Engineer Company so that
they can be deployed to conduct light engineering tasks and when I mean light
engineering tasks, I am talking about tasks to do house renovations, house construction,
not major house construction as yet but just light house construction and that
is in essence what the light engineering company will be able to do.”
And while the BDF Engineering company will be building houses, The
Coast Guard will establish bases on Calabash, Hunting and Ambergris Cayes with
a plan for a headquarters near Old Belize in the City.
Email
Print