The U.S. government today made another donation to the Belize military. This time the gift is radio equipment: not the kind soldiers would listen to on long, boring patrols - but the type on which every sentence ends with the word "roger." We today found out how having lightweight, high powered radios is better than being "out of the signal area."
Keith Swift Reporting,
The 18 handheld radios were donated along with 4 of what are called "man packs." This morning at Price Barracks, U.S. Ambassador Robert Dieter handed over the radios to BDF Commander General Lloyd Gillett.
Brig. Gen. Lloyd Gillett, BDF Commander
"This will provide the BDF with reliable safe communications. We will deploy them in our patrols, in our rural and urban areas of Belize. An army has to shoot, communicate, and move and the U.S. government has helped us this year with three of those areas. They've donated half a million rounds, they've donated ten trucks for us to move and now we have radios to communicate."
And according to Ambassador Dieter, effective communication in an army is key.
Robert Dieter, U.S. Ambassador
"As I understand how this group of equipment works, it will enable a large group of soldiers to communicate securely and effectively with each other through these handheld units. There are eighteen of those and there are four "man pack" units that are sort of the central communication equipment so that as people are spread out through the jungle or spread out in wherever they are conducting their patrol, they are able to communicate with each other securely with the latest equipment that's available."
At this morning's ceremony, Ambassador Dieter also presented Gian Alpuche with
his acceptance letter to the U.S. Naval Academy. It's a dream come true for this 19 year old who joined the BDF last year. He says he is following in the footsteps of his brother.
Gian Alpuche, Accepted in Naval Academy
"My older brother he became involved with the BDF first and he kind of, was always, not bugging me, but was always telling me to get involved and so I took his advice and last summer I just came to take the officer selection, I got selected and ever since then I've been involved in it."
Keith Swift,
What are your expectations of the U.S. Naval Academy?
Gian Alpuche,
"I expect to be challenged, to overcome my challenges, to excel in my area of study and to make Belize and my family very proud of me."
Gian Alpuche leaves for the Naval Academy on June 16th. Reporting for 7NEWS, I am Keith Swift.
The donation is valued at US$350,000.
