This past weekend's accidental bomb detonation in Nuevo San Jose Palmar village in Orange Walk has prompted the BDF to educate and warn the public about the dangers of these bombs - which are not uncommon in Carmelita and other areas. But how long has all this unexploded ordnance been out there and where did they come from?
Defense CEO Francis Usher answered our questions.
Jules Vasquez
"Have you all been able to determine if it is British or American or from what force?"
Major Francis Usher (Ret'd.), CEO -Ministry of Defence
"Various different forces use the New River Training area. We are doing a serial number check with the remaining 2 thousand pound bombs. They were not armed with TNT but they did also have a spotting charge that thankfully did not go off. Our EO Team has already removed those and safely disarmed them, and we are doing a background check as we do have some information on file regarding most of the bombs that have come in country. I would like to say all the bombs that have come in country but I don't like to speak in absolutes."
"At this point I wouldn't want to speculate or say definitively. It is most likely British, but I wouldn't want to speculate and say for sure that it is."
Those who have explosives and want the BDF hotline called the WATCH KEEPER at 610-6037.
