But, as we told you, it caused quite a public uproar in the discussion of national security when it was discovered that the Guatemalan company, BINARQ, was building the Forward Operating Base for the Coast Guard on Hunting Caye, one of the southernmost islands in the Sapodilla Range.
Last week Thursday, the United States Army Corp of Engineers sent the company a letter to stop construction, which was almost 75% complete. The public critics say, however, that the company shouldn't have gotten that far before it became public knowledge. So, today, in an effort to allay fears that the security of the nation has been breached by the Guatemalan employees who worked on the building, the Commandant of the Belize Coast Guard held a press conference in which he explained the vetting procedure.
Admiral John Borland told the press today that the The Hunting Caye Project came about at an opportune time for the Coast Guard, when they realized that facilities built years ago was rundown. The upgrade was first requested by Coast Guard in 2005, but it was notnot approved until late 2010.
Borland explained how the Guatemalan company got the contract, which came through the Status of Forces Agreement, signed in 2007.
Admiral John Borland - Commandant, Belize Coast Guard
"At the time the contract was awarded under the Status Forces Agreement of 2007, where there was an agreement that the US government could use any contractor that qualifies and that usually meant to the lowest bidder. All parties including Belize did not object to this policy. By this time we had recently entered into the second round of confidence building measures which were designed to reach an equitable and peaceful solution of the territorial differendum between Belize and Guatemala - that would be general, definitive, honorable and permanent on the land insular and maritime issues. It also had as an objective the treatment of economic commercial tourism cooperation integration and other transitory measures of good neighborliness. It was against this backdrop that no one offered any objections to the contract being awarded to the Guatemalan company BINARQ, an international company that works in various countries and has done similar projects in the region."
From there, the Commander went on to explain the military perspective on why Guatemalans building the facility isn't considered a security threat.
Admiral John Borland - Commandant, Belize Coast Guard
"The company was only involved in the construction of the physical structure. Thus, they know the exact location and material the building was constructed from. This of course would be pubic knowledge to all and does not constitute a security breach. The 4 elements that constitute a security breach are espionage, sabotage, subversion and terrorism. Espionage could not be achieved as they would not be involve with any of the systems that constitute the operational capabilities of this forward operating base. They would not be involve in the communications, surveillance, weaponry or security mechanisms of this outpost. As for sabotage, this could not be as the monitoring and the quality control system of the army corps of engineers that inspect the building at the end of every phase of construction and at the end of each month would easily identify anything that would compromise the structural integrity of the building. This will also take care of the planting of any listening or bugging devices that may be used. Note also that an army corps of engineer personnel is permanently attached to the project. Subversion on the other hand could not be achieve, as the integrity of our forces and civilian leadership remain uncompromised. Threats from direct attack or terrorism could not be associated with the project as the company is vetted and they in turn vet their workers. This company is in no way associated with any elements of the Guatemalan military or subversive elements. At this point as you all are aware, the stop order issued by the US Southern Command Arm Corp of Engineers is in effect and will remain that way. As of last Friday we have met with our US counterparts to discuss the way forward and requested that the remainder of the project which is about 75% completed be subcontracted to Belizean personnel. The company has agreed, but the final decision lies with the army corps of engineers based on what funds are still available for the project."
But, at the heightened state of awareness, persons in the public have associated the armed incursion at Valentin with the construction of the base. When that question was put to the Commander, he explained that they have to be treated very different.
Admiral John Borland - Commandant, Belize Coast Guard
"I see the situations being very different where the group in the Chiquibul is an armed and hostile group. I cannot based anything I see on hypothetical questions because I can only speak for the facts that I know as it applies to maritime security. But an armed and hostile group in the Chiquibul has to be treated differently from a civilian company that has been cleared, that has been vetted, has had a reputation of working throughout the region and has not in any way compromise any nation's national security. It has to be two different situations."
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