When they are called to duty from the border and into the city, BDF soldiers normally take a back seat to police and other law enforcement officers. But in times of natural disasters, it is the armed forces who run the show. And that's why, over the next week 40 Belizean and Mexican soldiers are undergoing training on "support to the civil population in case of disaster."
The training began yesterday and NEMO's Chief Executive Officer Lawrence Sylvestre and the Mexican Ambassador Arturo Trejo both spoke about the importance of the cooperation.
Lawrence Sylvestre, CEO Ministry of Foreign Affairs
"This is the core of our national emergency management system in aiding civil populations in the event of disasters, whether manmade or natural. The course will bring to the Belize Defense Force, or the participants who from a range of government and municipal departments, in better coordinating efforts whether it be search effort and evacuation, whether it be shelter management and rations distribution and supplies."
Jorge Trejo, Mexican Ambassador
"This collaboration between Mexico and Belize is extremely important because we both share a common region, we both share the Caribbean coast, and it is very important to have coordination and collaboration in order to act jointly in case of disasters and to protect the civil population."
The course concludes on Friday.
7NEWS produced for broadcast by News Director Jules Vasquez
Edited and Prepared for the internet by Keith Swift
