Yesterday we told you that the Foreign Minister announced to the UN that Belize had agreed to send BDF soldiers as a part of a multinational force to help to stabilize Haiti. Today, the media asked the Leader of the Opposition his thoughts on the matter. While he didn't have much to say on the government's decision, he did encourage them to implement a new law that would see all 18 year olds joining the military.
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"I did not read that, to deal with what is happening in Haiti, I know they have ongoing civil unrest and political unrest, certainly as a member of Caricom, I sympathize with Haiti and whatever we could do, we should. One of the things that brings me to, when we talk about crime, and talk about the youth, one of the things we need to do is make it mandatory that all 18 year olds join the military. Even if it's for a year or two, and get that training and get that conditioning and rather than being out there lost on the trails, being absorbed by these bad actors and led astray, they can go into the military and serve, and go into the Sarstoon, and go to our borders, and know what it means to be a nationalist, and know what it means to give your all for your country, that is something that I highly recommend to the Minister of National Security and the Minister of Finance."
