BDF Hosts Annual Christmas Luncheon at Price Barracks

The Belize Defense Force celebrated its annual Christmas luncheon today at Price Barracks in Ladyville. Prime Minister John Briceño and Minister of National Defence Florencio Marin Junior were there to serve the dedicated men and women of the B.D.F. Earlier, we caught up with B.D.F. Commander Azariel Loria and PM Briceño to talk about this cherished tradition.

 

Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria, B.D.F. Commander

“From the time I know myself, when I was a cadet, this was what was done every year and they are a Christmas luncheon and it has survived the time.  I’m here going for thirty years and we still do it every year.  It’s a wonderful tradition that we want to continue to improve. Before, we didn’t have the prime minister.  Sometimes, occasionally, we used to have the ministers of defense, but now the tradition is getting better and better.  Every year it’s getting better.  We’ve had here Prime Minister Briceno for the third or fourth consecutive time.  It speaks volumes.  At least he shows up, he dishes food to the soldiers and then he goes.  But he takes from his busy agenda.  We know that during Christmas everybody is committed and he comes to Price Barracks to pay his respects to the soldiers for the work that they have done every year and so do we, the senior NCOs and officers, we do that as well.  A wonderful tradition and I think that it’ something worthwhile to keep.”

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“To me, it’s very important because of the men and women who are at the forefront, right at the front, facing whatever challenges that we may have as a country, be it with the fires, the floodings, hurricanes and storms, fighting at the border, protecting the border.  And so, I think it’s the least I can do is to come and symbolically serve them some food.”