Minister Commits to Maintaining Integrity of B.D.F. 

And, if there are any questions of whether cartel elements have infiltrated the rank and file of the Belize Defense Force, Minister Marin says he has received no credible reports of such. He says that if any information arises, the matter will be dealt with swiftly. Furthermore, he noted that the B.D.F. undertakes certain measures to prevent such occurrences.

 

Florencio Marin Jr., Minister of National Defense

“So far I have not heard any such credible report. One of the things we do is, that is why the military is always changing their personnel, brining them from different places to bring some integrity to their work. But if anything would happen, we would like to know so that we can address it.”

 

Paul Lopez

“How open is Cabinet and your government in ensuring that they have all the resources they need?”

 

Florencio Marin

“Cabinet is extremely supportive. It is the prime minister who told us to make sure we safe guard the citizens up north with where we are right now, because if they put a foot hold then you know we will be in some problems. We have full support  from the Cabinet and the prime minister.”

 

Paul Lopez

“How confident are you that we are able to hold at bay any potential or real threat?”

 

Florencio Marin

“It is an international effort and we are in contact with our Mexican counterparts and they as well, because it is affecting them. So they are putting in their proper safe guards and on the civilian side you see it affects business in Chetumal. They want to be able to assure us that Belizeans can continue to go to Chetumal and move around freely.  And when they do their part and we do our part we are able to keep it down.”