Whenever there was an incident out in the cayes, the Coast Guardsmen would have to head out from their HQ on the George Price Highway. But now with a new patrol base on Caye Caulker, they will be able to respond much faster. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held today at the Caye Caulker Community Center where the base is located, and Jomarie Lanza was there to witness the reveal of the base. Here's that story.
The Belize Coast Guard will now maintain a permanent presence on Caye Caulker, thanks to the Caye Caulker village council who assisted them in finding a space to set up their patrol base. At the ribbon cutting ceremony today we asked the commandant about the importance of remaining on active duty on the islands.
Admiral Gregory Soberanis, Commandant, Belize Coast Guard
"This is strategic initiative for the ministry of national defense and border security, in coordination with the ministry of blue economy really. The new operational posture for the coast guard the new operational design, after we have conducted our strategic estimate we realize that Caye Caulker has grown significantly over the years it is a main tourism hub, significant infrastructure development and so this area requires enhanced law enforcement, maritime law enforcement presence, while we do have a patrol base or a station out at San Pedro we saw it necessary that Caye Caulker has it's own maritime security presence given the growth and development that we have seen on the island and so under the leadership and directive of Honorable Florencio Marin, the Coast Guard went into action with our operational planners and we coordinated with the village council looking at having a permanent presence here on the island."
"So this base is strategic in the sense that it will not only support the community of Caye Caulker but when you go even further south you have significant investment on Caye Chapel as well and some of the other surrounding islands as it relates to the environment so it is not only Law enforcement it is also the conservation efforts, it is also illegal fishing so this area of operation for us is key and critical in ensuring that we have good maritime stewardship and good maritime governance of the resources."
A crew of 6 will be dispatched at the base, along with a vessel to conduct patrols, with support from the patrol station in San Pedro. The minister of defense says it's part of a new initiative to increase the presence of security forces throughout the country.
Florencio Marin Jr., Minister of National Defense
"We are trying to expand as much as we can strategically of course we cant cover all the islands we have so you know finally in working in close collaboration with the area representative minister Perez our chairlady Ms Villanueva Pott you know we finally now have a nice working space. Im sure you've just seen it but it is a good space for these guys to be able to come and do their operational work."
Jo-
"What type of operations will they be maintaining out here?"
Florencio Marin Jr., Minister of National Defense
"Their regular operations, protecting the maritime waters, protecting our fishermen you know combat narco trafficking where and wherever it rears it's head you know so those are the works that we will be doing."
Both Caye Caulker village's chair lady and the area representative for Belize Rural South spoke about the reports of piracy that have been occurring out at sea, and their hope that the coast guard will be able to prevent these incidents from occurring.
Seleny Villanueva Pott, Chair Person, Caye Caulker Village Council
"We had just refurbished our community center and that area inclusive of about maybe a year and a half ago so the space was available when they made the request if we were able to help with spacing we were more than glad."
Jo-
"So how does it make you feel to know that you have their presence out here now 24/7."
Seleny Villanueva Pott, Chair Person, Caye Caulker Village Council
"I believe the entire community will now feel more relieved and have more sense of security especially on the seas, we have been hearing reports of pirating where fisherman have complained of people going into their waters intimidating them so I believe it provides an essential part of security for our community specifically our fisher folks. I know when our tourists, our visitors see this they will feel more at ease so it definitely sends a good message."
Andre Perez, Area Representative, Belize Rural South
"It is always good especially for our shores not only for Caye Caulker but across the coastal community that are always with the rising you know sea piracy the stealing of vessels everything, right now is where we have to be very careful at all times but again as a government we have to lead and find where these places are more needed, and what more places that is qualified is Caye Caulker."
