B.D.F. to be Removed from Santa Familia

Chester Williams

On Monday night, we aired an interview with the Chief of Staff of the Belize Defense Force on the rules of engagement that guide a soldier in populated areas like Santa Familia. The incident goes against those standard procedures.  Commissioner of Police Chester Williams told the gathering today that the military officers have been removed from the village. ComPol Williams says that the B.D.F. soldiers were added to help with the issue of Guatemalan bandits in the area, but now that will change.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“I am not too familiar with the B.D.F. rules of engagement, but I believe there may be a need for some reform to ensure that the B.D.F. rules of engagement in the rural or urban setting is not the same as the border areas because we cannot be at war with our own people. So it is something that I am sure is going to be looked at to see what reform can be done to ensure that this does not occur.”

Reporter

“But should the B.D.F. remain on patrol with the police in these population centers?”

Chester Williams

“No. I don’t think so. No.”

Reporter

“So now we change this, change this back, change it again. Will we have to change it back again? Revert to police only patrols?”

Chester Williams

“You know at times, we do have circumstances where things may get a bit out of hand and on the edge that the mass of our country begin to feel uneasy. And due to the fact that we, police, don’t have the numbers to be able to take control of situations at time, they will from time to time and situations will dictate when and how the B.D.F. will join the police in dealing with certain situations.”