The Belize Police Force has doubled the number of enlisted officers
from one thousand, to a little over two thousand in under 3 years, according to a statement made by minister of National Security John Saldivar yesterday. Mr. Saldivar was speaking at the graduation of recruit squad #92 at the Belize Police Training Academy in the capital Belmopan.
Addressing the new police officers, guests, parents and members of the diplomatic corps in attendance for the event, Mr. Saldivar said “Even though this is the sixth recruiting squad, that I have had the privilege of addressing, as Minister of National Security since my appointment in 2012, each ceremony, including this one, has been of great importance and significance to me. Important because every new squad we send out carries the collective responsibility of the entire Department. Significant, because your passing out symbolises the desire and will of my Government to ensure increased and adequate security for all citizens. The number of police officers had grown from over 1000 police officers when I took over in 2012 to 1917 as of September 2015. The graduation of this recruit squad has now brought the number of Police Officers to 2067 uniformed men and women. ”
The minister also shared a snapshot of Belize’s current crime rate “Our crime comparative statistic report, as at the month of November, shows that all major crimes, with the exception of murders (110 – 114), are below last year’s, year to date, figures. In 2014 the total major crimes were 2,287 and the 2015 figures shows only 2,027; a difference of 260 major crimes. When you study the crime statistics on major crimes since 2008; one would observe that there is a steady decrease in the number of cases of major crimes from year to year. In 2008 we had 3,126 reported cases, 3,118 in 2009, 2,447 in 2010, 2,324 in 2011, 2,259 in 2012, 2,227 in 2013; which was the year that we had one of the lowest murder rates in recent history, and we were the only Country in the region that showed a reduction in its homicide rate per 100,000 capita. We had 2,287 major crimes in 2014, breaking the downward trend, but we rebounded with an impressive reduction in 2015 to 2,027 major crimes.”
On a related note, Belize is moving quickly to upgrade its naval capabilities to better protect its territorial integrity, and combat drug, weapons and human trafficking through its maritime border and exclusive economic zone. On 9 December government announced it was building a naval base at the mouth of the Sarstoon River on its southern border with Guatemala. It has now revealed that it is procuring two gunboats to served as mother ships for its fleet of Coast Guard vessels and interceptor craft:
Chief Executive Officer Ministry of National Security Colonel George Lovell:
“Well we are hoping to partner with any of our friendly nations. As you note I already made an appeal to not just the U.S. Southern Command, we are been talking to Mexican friends and things are looking good for us. But it’s not just the acquisition of these assets, we must look at the sustenance and maintenance of these vessels as we get them. That is where I would want to see them partnering with us. Because this is not just for Belize, this is as far as I see for the safety of the region and to a large extent those countries which transshipment of narcotics, or weapons, even human smuggling and by the way we have seen a trend in terrorism. Countries that will more than likely be targets for these types of illicit activities will certainly benefit from Belize having the kind of capacity for our Coast Guard and our maritime people here in Belize to be able to do their part in the whole bigger regional security efforts.”
The cost of the gun boats is estimated at U.S. $13 million and is being procured with the assistance of the U.S. and Mexican governments.
from one thousand, to a little over two thousand in under 3 years, according to a statement made by minister of National Security John Saldivar yesterday. Mr. Saldivar was speaking at the graduation of recruit squad #92 at the Belize Police Training Academy in the capital Belmopan.
Addressing the new police officers, guests, parents and members of the diplomatic corps in attendance for the event, Mr. Saldivar said “Even though this is the sixth recruiting squad, that I have had the privilege of addressing, as Minister of National Security since my appointment in 2012, each ceremony, including this one, has been of great importance and significance to me. Important because every new squad we send out carries the collective responsibility of the entire Department. Significant, because your passing out symbolises the desire and will of my Government to ensure increased and adequate security for all citizens. The number of police officers had grown from over 1000 police officers when I took over in 2012 to 1917 as of September 2015. The graduation of this recruit squad has now brought the number of Police Officers to 2067 uniformed men and women. ”
The minister also shared a snapshot of Belize’s current crime rate “Our crime comparative statistic report, as at the month of November, shows that all major crimes, with the exception of murders (110 – 114), are below last year’s, year to date, figures. In 2014 the total major crimes were 2,287 and the 2015 figures shows only 2,027; a difference of 260 major crimes. When you study the crime statistics on major crimes since 2008; one would observe that there is a steady decrease in the number of cases of major crimes from year to year. In 2008 we had 3,126 reported cases, 3,118 in 2009, 2,447 in 2010, 2,324 in 2011, 2,259 in 2012, 2,227 in 2013; which was the year that we had one of the lowest murder rates in recent history, and we were the only Country in the region that showed a reduction in its homicide rate per 100,000 capita. We had 2,287 major crimes in 2014, breaking the downward trend, but we rebounded with an impressive reduction in 2015 to 2,027 major crimes.”
On a related note, Belize is moving quickly to upgrade its naval capabilities to better protect its territorial integrity, and combat drug, weapons and human trafficking through its maritime border and exclusive economic zone. On 9 December government announced it was building a naval base at the mouth of the Sarstoon River on its southern border with Guatemala. It has now revealed that it is procuring two gunboats to served as mother ships for its fleet of Coast Guard vessels and interceptor craft:
Chief Executive Officer Ministry of National Security Colonel George Lovell:
“Well we are hoping to partner with any of our friendly nations. As you note I already made an appeal to not just the U.S. Southern Command, we are been talking to Mexican friends and things are looking good for us. But it’s not just the acquisition of these assets, we must look at the sustenance and maintenance of these vessels as we get them. That is where I would want to see them partnering with us. Because this is not just for Belize, this is as far as I see for the safety of the region and to a large extent those countries which transshipment of narcotics, or weapons, even human smuggling and by the way we have seen a trend in terrorism. Countries that will more than likely be targets for these types of illicit activities will certainly benefit from Belize having the kind of capacity for our Coast Guard and our maritime people here in Belize to be able to do their part in the whole bigger regional security efforts.”
The cost of the gun boats is estimated at U.S. $13 million and is being procured with the assistance of the U.S. and Mexican governments.
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