But did the BDF have any say in who these suppliers were, or were they even aware of who was getting these contracts? Short answer: No. Here's why:
Brigadier General Anthony Velasquez, Commander, BDF
"My job here as the commander of the Belize Defense Force is to, first of all, whenever these suppliers, I don't know their background. I know they do a bidding, and then the Ministry of Defense determines who becomes suppliers. But my job here is that when these suppliers bring the supplies here, that's exactly what we ask for. First of all, we ask for the supplies from the ministry, and the ministry sends to us, 'This is what the supplier will bring.' Whenever the supplier reaches here, we cross-check our list with theirs. 'Is this the correct thing that you brought?' And if that's the correct thing, then we take it. If not, we tell them, 'This isn't what we ordered. Take it back.' Or if it's not what we ordered, 'Ensure that you fulfill what we ordered and bring back the rest that you didn't bring.' So that's just my concern, that we receive what we ask for. Now, about prices and everything else, I don't determine those prices, and it's not a chief concern of the commander of the Belize Defense Force."
Jaleeza Roberts:
"So when you see the prices that they were paying, did it ever occur to you that, why do they pay so much and we never get that?"
Brigadier General Anthony Velasquez, Commander, BDF
"It never occurred to me. My concern is that we receive what we ask for."
