The Belize Defence Force has launched an internal investigation after a female soldier reported she was raped by another soldier at Fairweather Camp in Toledo between Sunday night and Monday morning. Commander Brigadier General Anthony Velasquez said the alleged victim was assisted to make a police report, then flown to Price Barracks for counseling after weather delayed the flight, and has since received medical care and psychological support. The accused soldier has been placed under open arrest at Fairweather Camp while police and the BDF conduct separate investigations:
Brigadier General Anthony Velasquez, Commander, BDF
"Internally, the BDF is launching its own investigation and we will determine internally the matter, how it happened, what caused it to happen and why did it happen."
Reporter
"Are you all in a position to disclose whether or not it was an officer or a soldier who committed it?"
Brigadier General Anthony Velasquez
"It was a soldier who is the alleged perpetrator."
Reporter
"Has that person been put on leave?"
Brigadier General Anthony Velasquez
"The perpetrator is right now in what we call open arrest at Fairweather Camp, meaning he cannot leave Fairweather Camp until further notice."
Reporter
"We know that a previous alleged rape and sexual assault case was linked to the suicide of a female soldier. Can you address this?"
Brigadier General Anthony Velasquez
"Yes, well, this is a very serious matter. It's a wicked problem, a problem that really has a very limited solution, it cannot be solved 100%. So that's why we call it a wicked problem. So it's a problem that's persistent, it will always be there. What we have done over the past years and we learned from all these incidents that you alluded to, we have strengthened our policies, we have strengthened our policies, or the way how we deal with these matters, right? And we have educated our soldiers about sexual assault and everything and proper etiquette within the workplace. To the best of my knowledge, these incidents have reduced since that grave one that you mentioned. However, they will never go away, so we have to constantly be on the lookout and on guard."
"So these incidents, like I mentioned, they can be triggered by different things. But when large numbers of young people, soldiers, sailors, or police, I guess, work in confined spaces together, if you add other things like alcohol or whatever in there, these incidents are likely to occur. If not managed properly. And even though we have all the protocols and in place and procedures, the incidents still occur from time to time."
