Belize to Deploy Two Soldiers for Haiti Relief Mission

The Ministry of National Defense and Border Security has announced that two senior officers from the Belize Defense Force will be deployed to support Haiti’s restoration efforts and election security.  For decades, Haiti has struggled with controlling high levels of gang activity. However, over recent years, it has run rampant, hindering Haiti from conducting an election. Belize has been committed to supporting Haiti’s relief efforts, but due to funding issues, the mission was unable to be enacted. We spoke with Major Roberta Usher, Chief of Staff at the Belize Defense Force for more information on the mission. Here’s more on that.

 

On the Phone: Major Roberta Usher, Chief of Staff, B.D.F.

“In alignment with the United Nations security council resolution and Belize’s commitment from the foreign affairs, two of our senior officers deployed to Jamaica and will now proceed to Haiti to support the CARICOM joint task force and work staff duties within their headquarters.”

 

Britney Gordon

“Okay, and initially it seemed that we would be sending a larger fleet and now it’s two soldiers. Can you talk to me about what the roles of these two soldiers will look like in aiding Haiti’s relief?”

 

Major Roberta Usher

“Yeah, so our senior officers, their officers there will be employed as staff officers on there to combat the carry come joint task force. One will be employed as the operational planner and the mission commander second in command and the. Other officer will work at the company headquarters in order to develop strategic plans and operational plans for the troops on the ground to get everything prepared in the event that we are to deploy a larger contingent from Belize and Jamaica.”

 

Britney Gordon

“Okay. And it seems that a part of the reason why it has taken such a long time to get this mission really going is because there was some pushback before from other entities. And so what’s really been the trigger to get it going now? Has that been resolved?”

Major Roberta Usher

“I don’t know about resolve, but in order to support a big multinational service and support like this, there are a lot of planning aspects, logistical concerns, which constraints and in order for us to deploy our larger contingent that all has to be resolved, I guess would be the right word. And So these officers are there eyes on the ground to ensure that we have a better picture of what is happening in Haiti before we are to deploy our other soldiers, but we’re planning. We’re planning to support as best as we possibly can.”