The Belize Defence Force‘s (BDF) Chief of Staff, Major Roberta Usher, told News Five that the BDF is working on addressing concerns regarding the living conditions at Fairweather Camp in Punta Gorda, Toledo. She said this is part of ongoing renovation efforts across BDF installations.
According to Major Usher, plans are already in place to renovate Fairweather Camp as part of a phased approach to improve infrastructure throughout all BDF facilities. She said, “It can’t all happen at once. But in terms of the complaints from the recruits, as you say, you have been getting that those are, there are two different situations. What happened was the battalion commander in Fair Weather Camp conducted an initial exercise. As you know, the recruits just passed out and an initial exercise on the, to ensure that they understand their roles and responsibilities.”
Earlier this month, 115 soldiers joined the BDF. Some of them were sent to Fairweather Camp and have yet to come to terms with the deplorable conditions at the camp. Pictures obtained by News Five show soldiers sleeping on only mattresses on the ground. Others said they were sleeping on “old old” sponges.
Regarding accommodations, Major Usher admitted, “They’re not the best standards if you want honesty, but they are livable. The bathrooms do need renovations. Higher headquarters are aware, the ministry is aware, the government is aware… but it’s a phased approach, and they can’t build all the buildings at once.”
Responding to criticism that these upgrades could have started earlier, she noted, “Rome wasn’t built in a day, and I believe that higher command is taking it into consideration and doing the best that they can do.”
When pressed about recruits reportedly sleeping on the floor and using inadequate bathroom facilities described by some as “disgusting,” she reiterated the BDF’s commitment to improving infrastructure. “At this time, I can only comment on what we are doing, and that is we are doing the best that we can do to renovate the infrastructure,” she stated.
As for timelines and specifics, Major Usher was unable to provide details about when renovations at Fairweather Camp would be completed or how the phased approach is being prioritised across installations. She confirmed, however, that similar challenges exist across all BDF camps, and renovations are being implemented incrementally.
