The BDF got their belly full yesterday at their annual Christmas luncheon, and today was the Coast Guard's turn to carve the turkey. Jomarie Lanza stopped by their base to see what a Coast Guard Christmas tastes like. Here's that story.
It was a Christmas meal fit for a Coast Guard officer, and all 300 of them dined side by side today at their Headquarters for their annual Christmas Luncheon. Acting Commandant, Captain Gregory Soberanis told us that even the officers who are deployed will also receive a meal.
Captain Gregory Soberanis, Acting Commandant, Belize Coast Guard
"The event that you see happening here today is an annual event, it is a proud tradition in the military a proud tradition of the Belize Coast Guard where at the end of the year we recognize the hard work that the men and women have put in over the year in service to our nation so it is our Christmas lunch it is where us. As the senior leadership serves the men and women in the coastguard a lunch and a drink and some snacks and some goodies. It really is a demonstration of servant leadership which is the backbone and legacy of who we are as an organization so it is a festive event, as you can see we have our partners here from the BDF from the US, from Taiwan so all these key partners are here to join in this celebration of honoring the hardworking of the sailors in the Belize Coast Guard."
"So all the deployed units will have a Christmas lunch and so that they can by extension be apart of the celebrations that you see happening here today."
Several awards were also distributed at the event, for Seaman Of The Year, Sailor Of The Year and so forth. Their outgoing commandant also showed up for one last meal with his crew.
Elton Bennett, CEO, Ministry of Home Affairs
"Last coast guard Christmas lunch indeed but there will be many more where I am going. I am looking forward to going over to the ministry of home affairs and enterprise where I will be interacting more with the police department. So for me leaving this environment it is sad indeed it Is my last Christmas lunch with members of the Belize Coast Guard but it is a continuation of service where I am going so I do look forward to doing similar activities like this with the Belize Police department and the other entities within the ministry."
