Category: BDF

Last week, a meeting was held at the Ministry of National Defense and Border Security to discuss the salary system for Belize’s military. This has been a concern for soldiers for several years. Today, we asked Brigadier General Azariel Loria about the outcome of that meeting. He shared that steps are being taken to adjust military salaries to match those of other security services in Belize.

 

Brigadier General Azariel Loria, Commander, B.D.F.

“There were some concerns that were not addressed which encompass, primarily, the pay scale and other allowances, among other things. Rations is not a concern anymore. In previous years, it used to be, but now it’s not a concern for us. We have enough sufficient rations to…”

 

Marion Ali

“But the type of rations I think was what was the concern, what they were given.

 

Brigadier General Azariel Loria

“Yes, the type of rations and we’re addressing it. Furthermore, we’re accessing the British rations too as well. So that shouldn’t be a problem. We have the rations that should have the adequate calorie content, protein contents, carbohydrates so that they can perform his job to the best of his ability.”

 

Marion Ali

“So, what’s the update coming out of the meeting as it pertains to their salaries?

 

Brigadier General Azariel Loria

“That is something that the ministry will be prioritizing and we will know more in the coming days, but that was discussed and the priority of the minister was to tackle or adjust that head on.”

 

Marion Ali

“Were there any assurances given that it will be adjusted on par with the other security forces?

 

Brigadier General Azariel Loria

“It’ll be prioritized. We do not know, but that is what we intended to do, to ensure that it’s adjusted  and ensure that it’s fair across the board.”

 

 

 

Brigadier General Azariel Loria stepped into the role of commander of the Belize Defense Force, taking over from Brigadier General Steven Ortega. Now, nearly three years later, Commander Loria’s tenure is drawing to a close. At the B.D.F.’s forty-seventh anniversary, Loria looked back on his time as commander and shared his plans for the force in the months leading up to the change of command.

 

Brigadier General Azariel Loria, Commandant, B.D.F.

“ There will be a change of command. The commander of the Belize Defense Force is bound to a contract of four years. I started my contract about three years and a couple of months now going. It should finish on the twenty-first of December of this year. After which it could be extended. If I decide to ask for an extension or the ministry decides to keep me back the Ministry of Defense. But that is something that will be negotiated thereafter. I am talking about my tenure here. Four years. There will be a change of command. Of course, I don’t think I will be asking to extend us the commander of the buildings defense force. That will be going for sure. But then we will be productive until the last day, until the last day. I am a public servant, first and foremost, and I have to give my utmost best for the benefit of Belize, to ensure that we have a good organization in order that we can provide a service which is to security the borders to and the territorial sovereignty of Belize.”

 

For years, soldiers in the Belize Defense Force have been complaining about the terrible conditions of their facilities across the country. Last year, new sleeping quarters were unveiled at Price Barracks camp in Ladyville. Brigadier General Azariel Loria, the B.D.F. Commandant, says more improvements like this are on the way to the force’s facilities.

 

Brigadier General Azariel Loria, Commandant, B.D.F.

“As I  mentioned in the past, we were somewhat left behind when it comes to the infrastructure and other things. For the past maybe fifteen, twenty years,  we have not progressed. But for the past thre, four years, there have been a  lot of funds injected into the Belize Defense Force. For And it is obvious we’re now having barrack rooms state of the art barrack rooms, modern barrack rooms. Our kitchen that we started to use just yesterday. We have projects done in the south as the forward operating base like how Minister Mira and Minister Marin alluded in their reports. Eyles Camp, , that is the base in the north, we were trying to see how we can refurbish. At Belisario, we’ll have refurbished the  and we will continue to refurbish the barrack rooms this year through the CABEI initiative, the CABEI funds and in Fairweather camp as well. Fairweather camp has been the,  in my estimation, the most neglected camp. And hence I think that camp or that base needs a good infusion of funds. So that is where we are going to tackle this year. That is where we’re going to concentrate our efforts.” 

 

Recently, a Belize Defense Force soldier was charged with theft for allegedly being involved in a store burglary in Punta Gorda. Brigadier General Azariel Loria, the B.D.F. Commander, said the police are handling the case, but the force might also conduct its own internal investigation.

 

Brigadier General Azariel Loria, Commandant, B.D.F.

“We got information that a soldier was involved. One of the newly promoted soldiers, yes. And that he was remanded to prison. I don’t know if he has been offered bail. Thus yet I will have to check with my with the G. G1 is simply the personnel officer that deals with that matter. But, indeed, there was that incident where the soldier was allegedly involved in theft in one of the source down south.”

 

Reporter

“So when stuff like that happens, it goes directly to the police and not through the police defense force. That’s what I’m understanding?”

 

Brigadier General Azariel Loria

“The police department directly deals with criminal matters involving civilians out there. We do follow it up and if the person or if the soldier is found guilty, in so doing, he has brought the force into disrepute, and he could be dealt with a charge. He could be tried internally by the Belize Defense Force for such a matter.”

 

Last week, the Belize Defense Force held a meeting to address disciplinary issues that need fixing. During the meeting, they announced plans to set up a training academy for non-commissioned officers. Brigadier General Azariel Loria, the B.D.F. Commander, shared more details about this initiative.

 

Brigadier General Azariel Loria, Commandant, B.D.F.

“Here in the Belize Defense Force, for a private soldier to start to climb the ranks, they have to do courses, promotional courses in part in particular.  And we do not have NCO school, per se, in the Belize Defense Force. So some time ago, about two or three years ago, we lobbied the United States Southern Command for them to try to assist us. And we had it in phase phase one was to  trainers, which has been accomplished. So we have, professional personnel, competent people that can impart lessons to be a Lance Corporal, Sergeant, all the way up to Sergeant Major. That is out of the way, but now what we need is a school proper to further develop the skills of them and to ensure that we have progression when it comes to that. We were lobbying the South Com to start with an auditorium somewhere that lectures can be delivered. But unfortunately, that did not come true. So now the next step is to try to seek our allies and continue to look around to see who can grant us that. But a paper will be sent to the Ministry of National Defence for government support too as well, because that is something that we need and we need to improve in, in the leadership of our NCOs at this point in time. We believe that the NCOs are, this are the backbone of the police defense force and if it has some loopholes, weak spots we have identified the gaps and that is where we want to continue to work on.”

Today, the Belize Defense Force celebrated an impressive forty-seven years of service. For nearly five decades, they’ve been dedicated to protecting Belize’s borders and assisting with natural disaster relief. To mark this significant milestone, the force held an Honor Guard Parade at Price Barracks in Ladyville. B.D.F Commandant, Brigadier General Azariel Loria, shared his thoughts on this remarkable achievement with us.

 

Brigadier General Azariel Loria, Commandant, B.D.F

“ What we have just witnessed today is the  anniversary of the Belize Defence Force. Every year, we celebrate the anniversary of the Belize Defence Force. The police defense force was formed in on the 1st of January of 1978. However, we do not celebrate it on the first because everybody all over the world will be celebrating along with us. We just decided to push it back to the end of the month, which is around the third, the thirtieth, thirty-first or even the first of February sometimes. Where we can dedicate it specifically and exclusively to the police defense force and to those that that follow us, to our veterans that have retired and all our partners or allies that have, and even the government organizations and NGOs that deal with us.”

 

Reporter

“So how  many members do you guys currently have in the force?”

 

Brigadier General Azariel Loria

“How many members we have in the regular force, we have about, lt’s call it about two thousand to include the volunteers or a bit more.”

Earlier this month, Belize Defence Force soldier, Private Clive Baizar was killed  at the Crique Sarco Conservation Post in Toledo after an altercation with fellow soldier, thirty-year-old Alfredo Robinson Junior. Following the incident, which left soldier Brandon Guzman injured, Robinson was formally charged with murder. According to reports, after the two men engaged in a verbal argument, Robinson retrieved a rifle and fired it at Baizar, fatally wounding him. Some speculate that alcohol may have been involved in the incident, however, Robinson refused to provide a blood sample. This week, the force has moved to ban alcohol within the camps completely. B.D.F Commandant, Brigadier General Azariel Loria, told us that there are several factors that led to this decision.

 

Brigadier General Azariel Loria, Commandant, B.D.F

 ”At this point in time, we have not gotten the results of the blood tests. The results as yet. However, we deem that it is important for us to curtail on the alcohol habits of the force.It is not a dire  situation as yet. However, we have to implement some measures. And it is not only because of that incident, perhaps that incident there was no alcohol consumption. But as a matter of fact, what we are doing we are doing it because there have been quite a few fatal traffic accidents that involved alcohol. And the latest one is the one down in the south where we lost one of our soldiers when he was riding back home with his motorcycle. So those are the specific reasons why We are curtailing on alcohol and we’re trying to make it a zero tolerance directive.”

 

Britney Gordon

“And it’s confirmed that, if the alcohol is discovered, it will be an immediate dismissal of the officer.”

 

Brigadier General Azariel Loria

“That is the direction that we have provided.  Under the Defense Act, the commander of the Belize Defence Force can make regulations to ensure that the force function.  steadily. That the force functions in a manner that we can secure ourselves, ensure our safety first and foremost.”

 

One of the big worries hanging over the B.D.F. is the talk of low morale among the soldiers. Brigadier General, the Commandant of the B.D.F., acknowledges that there’s definitely room for improvement, but assured that steps are being taken to address these issues. Loria mentioned to reporters that allowances for the soldiers are in the works, but he didn’t shy away from pointing out the clear neglect, especially when their structures are put to the test by hurricanes.

 

Brigadier General Azariel Loria, Commandant, B.D.F

“ The morale of the soldiers the pay,  it is still not fully resolved. That is something that is still at the desk of the Public Services Commission. And the pay continues. I do not believe that it will be caught, but that is only my belief, and they continue to receive their salaries every single one of them. And there are some allowances that are in the pipeline as well. So I don’t know how that would be an issue whenever we have been hearing of even pay allowances for everyone. And then we have been neglected and the media is aware of that. When every hurricane comes, you all know what happens to our installations at Price Barracks. You see zinc all over the place, but we were trying to improve.”

Earlier we heard from the B.D.F Commandant, Brigadier General Azariel Loria spoke of strides being made within the B.D.F to uplift the working conditions of the soldiers. But he also alluded to neglect, and when the media asked, we found out that the building where the fatal shooting occurred didn’t have necessities, such as an indoor bathroom.

 

Brigadier General Azariel Loria, Commandant, B.D.F

“It doesn’t have an inside restroom or a bathroom per se, so the soldiers have to go outside and access it. But yes, we have been – it was worse than that. It was abandoned police building that we have refurbished and we’re trying to refurbish it little by little. It was worse than that before and, and even worse that the soldiers used to live in a large tent before. So we have gone somewhere from under a tent to that refurbished building and we’ll continue to refurbish it. But slowly but surely, we’re going to get it done with the resources that we have available.”