This week, Belize began working on formulating a national military strategy. Eighteen representatives from the BDF, Police, Customs Department, and Central Bank spent the last week at a national military seminar. The sessions were led by Colonel Retired Bernard Griffard from the Army War College. At closing ceremonies today, Commander of the BDF Brigadier General Lloyd Gillett told us why we need a military strategy.
Brig. Gen. Lloyd Gillett, BDF Commander
"We thought that because of the myriad threats that are facing Belize, this would be a good time for us to develop a national military strategy for Belize so we can identify the capabilities we need, the correct force mix that we need to develop, so that we can try and garner support to get the resources to provide these capabilities to ensure the security, stability, and prosperity of Belize."
Col. (Ret) Bernard Griffard, Army War College
"What they accomplished this week, given the limited time, was they developed a process, they have gone into some very detailed discussion on the military objectives necessary to support the national strategy of Belize, they have looked at the ways to accomplish this, and they have identified some of the shortfalls within the Belize Defense Force."
The seminar was coordinated by the BDF along with the United States Military Liaison Office in Belize.
