Today the Belize Coast Guard, the Ministry of National Defense, and the Prime Minister broke ground for the newest forward operating base. There was a major gap in maritime security in the southern waters, but this base in Big Creek will eliminate the time it usually takes the officers to get there from the HQ in Belize. Those stationed at the base will now be in a better position to combat pirates, illegal fishers, and drug traffickers that usually traverse that area. At the ceremony, the PM and the southern sector commander told us more.
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"We are very grateful to the Big Creek Port who donated this land and this is an example of a partnership between government and private sector, so they donated this piece of land, we already that's open, the other there is soon going to be finished, and then we're doing this one that we just did the groundbreaking for. This will allow the Coast Guard to be even more effective, more efficient in our fight against drug traffickers, against the pirates and illegal fishing and all of that so I am very pleased, I am very honored to be invited and to be a part of this very historic occasion."
Lt. Comm. Audibaldo Monima, Belize Coast Guard
"Having this base here would be a significant change in the tempo of operations, we're going to be here 24/7, as a result we can launch operations from here, and as like I mentioned earlier, we going to provide safety and protection to all the mariners at sea, we're also going to protect the port and we're also going to be here to expand the prospect of the Belize Coast Guard when it comes to maritime operations."
The land was donated by the Big Creek Port, and the project will cost a little over $800,000.
We'll have the full story on the strategic importance of this base in tomorrow's newscast.
