We also spoke to CEO Tapia about the nation's defense, and how it will be carried out under the Briceno Administration.
We got the sense that the new CEO and his ministers are still in the process of catching up on everything related to the Ministry of Defense, but here are a few of the topics that the press asked Tapia about:
(Ret) Brigadier General Dario Tapia - CEO, Ministry of Defense & Border Security
"We're currently orienting ourselves, the ministers and I, to both services the Belize Defense Force and the National Coast Guard. What I can tell us is that with the strategic guidance that I've gotten from the Minister, we will focus on 3 goals. Goal number 1 is to look after the welfare of the Coast Guard personnel and the Belize Defense Force, and also we'll look at accountability. Goal #2 is to make sure that we carry out our operational duties to the maximum, to ensure that we have territorial integrity, and to have a secure and safe Belize. And goal number 3 is to engage in defense diplomacy with our international and regional partners, again to ensure that we have a safe and secure Belize."
Reporter
"As it relates to issues with the border, we know that the PUP, when they were in opposition, were very critical about the then government's approach to the issues that we have with Guatemalans."
(Ret) Brigadier General Dario Tapia
"I will tell you - and I as the former commander of the Belize Defense Force, I am well in tune with how we deal with the Guatemalan incursions. We have to understand that there are some protocols that we have to follow, what was negotiated with the OAS. And we can't stray away from that. So, we will continue maintaining and respecting those protocols because, in the eyes of the international community, we have to deal with those issues, based on those protocols."
"As we review our goal #2, if we have to put more personnel to ensure that we address those issues, we will do that."
Reporter
"One of the things that have always come up is the issue down south, on the Sarstoon."
(Ret) Brigadier General Dario Tapia
"We can't address it on our own, because if you know, it is cross-border. So, we have to engage the Guatemalan Arm Forces, by the defense, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has to address it also, with the Government of Guatemala, and the OAS, so that we're able to transit and share the use of the Sarstoon River mutually, and with mutual respect."
