On the news from time we have reports involving the Belize Special Assignment Group, or B-Sag as they are called. But who is this highly specialized military unit? We found out today when they got a lavish donation. Here's the story from Price Barracks in Ladyville:
Jules Vasquez Reporting
The B-SAG, or Belize Special Assignment Group is the BDf's Special Forces:
Brigadier General David Jones - Commander, BDF
"B-SAG is our special forces unit. This unit was created about 7 years ago, primarily for terrorism training, for any terrorist attack that may come into Belize, or any high-risk, danger operation, hostage rescue, or search and rescue. These guys are our elite forces. A soldier is trained to kill; these guys in the Special Forces are trained to do it even more efficiently, or even better. They have been training with the US Special Forces for the past almost 7 years now. The US Special Forces and the Canadian Special Forces work closely together, and since we work closely with the Canadians as well, there is a hand-off for a period, where the Canadians have volunteered and are willing to come and train, and continue the training with these special forces here that we have, at least for the next 3 years. So, they are committed; starting last month, Canadian Special Forces are going to be training our B-SAG for the next 3 years."
The unit – we weren't allowed to show their faces close up – are comprised of the best soldiers in the BDF:
Brigadier General David Jones
"There is a selection process where the fitness level of these guys have to be superior to the regular soldier, their marksmanship has to be superior to the rest, their ability to learn quickly, adapt, and do special type operations is tested, and based on their performance, then they get selected. They get selected to the training, and if they survive that training, then they get accepted into the B-SAG. And apart from being accepted, they are also vetted because these guys do specialized operations that are not normally known to the public, and we don't want information divulged on certain operations. So, the more covert operations, these guys would do. We check their background; we look at any criminal tendencies that they may have, or if they have the tendency to divulge information to others, we take them out. They get polygraph testing, so we check if they will be prone to telling lies, or lose their integrity on operations."
And now the Canadian government is investing in them, with this major donation of specialized equipment, 4 containers full:
H. E. Stuart Savage - Canadian High Commissioner to Belize
"Today, the donation represents about 1.2 million Canadian dollars, but I think the importance is more the practical ability that it is going to give the Belizean Defence Force, and B-SAG specifically, in its enhanced capacity to increase its surveillance, intelligence, and reconnaissance ability to ensure the security of Belize's territory and of course, its citizens."
George Lovell - CEO, Ministry of National Security
"The equipment includes a personal outfitting, uniforms, boots, helmets, personal protection vests, sleeping bags, and assault packs. There are also tools and hardware: vehicle jack, cutting tools, wrench, reaching tools, zodiac inflatable boats and engines, Imaging binoculars, spotting scopes, infrared lights, spotlights, cameras and GPS."
Lt. Col. Hank Szelecz - Commanding Officer, Canadian Special Forces
"It ranged from the simple as boots to uniforms, and these are multi-use uniforms, designed for the climate, such as what you find in Belize, jungle type terrains. And then, it ranges to more advanced stuff in terms of surveillance, camera equipment, night vision equipment, and thermal imaging, and then we move into actually some very simple stuff, much like tools for recovery of vehicles, during the rainy season for example, that enhances the mobility of the soldiers, as they conduct their role."
And while they all look new and impossibly high tech today – what will happen in the future?
George Lovell
"I want to ask for good equipment husbandry. We need to look after these equipment so that they can serve us a long time to come."
Jules Vasquez
"How will you keep account 0f these excellent assets, to make sure they are available and on-hand when a disaster strikes, or whenever there are needed?"
Brigadier General David Jones
"Excellent question these equipment, especially these equipment that are specifically for our Special Forces Unit, B-SAG. We have a good accounting system. These equipment will be handed over to their quarter master, and they will put it on a ledger and keep account of it. We will do regular checks on these equipment, so whoever has signed for these equipment, has to be accountable for them. So, if any of them goes missing, someone has to answer for it."
And a long time is how long the Canadians have been cooperating with Belize's military, since the 1980's:
H. E. Stuart Savage - Canadian High Commissioner to Belize
"Canada has a certain special relationship with Belize, and particularly, in terms of security, we have chosen Belize a country of focus for our military and political cooperation. Our Prime Minister's, Stephen Harper, in 2012, initiated a new program called the Initiative for Central American Security, which attributed 25 million dollars to enhance security in Central America, including Belize, and this is a direct benefit of that."
Jules Vasquez
"What is the strategic interest of your country, as it relates to this donation?"
H. E. Stuart Savage - Canadian High Commissioner to Belize
"Canada is committed to enhancing good governance, human rights, prosperity, and security in the Americas, and our participation here today fit into that overall engagement."
Lt. Col. Hank Szelecz - Commanding Officer, Canadian Special Forces
"The military relationship that Canada has with Belize is mutual, and it's mutually beneficial. So, we gain just as much training from coming here and working in cooperation with the Belize Defence Force."
Brigadier General David Jones
"For a small country like Belize, we are like a frontline sort of troops because the Rio Hondo borders Belize and Mexico, and that's where a lot of narcotic activity occurs. So, if Belize can work in that area, Mexico can work jointly with us, it stops some of the flow that will eventually go into Canada. So, this also benefits Canada."
George Lovell
"We are a country that welcomes assistance from all our friendly countries that seeks to the same sort of value that we have. And there are many of them. We have the British, Americans, and we now have the Canadians, and there is no strings attached. Yes, there are countries who would want to know precisely what impact the donation has, and I think it's just fair for us to say, 'Well, we have received these things. This is the result of those contributions and donations given to us. That's so that they are encouraged to give us more of these things. But, I don't see the Canadians asking for this. If they do, it's a reasonable request."
The 1.2 million Canadian dollar donation is valued at about 2.5 million Belize dollars...
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