BDF Officers Honored for Service in CARICOM Haiti Security Mission

Two Belize Defence Force officers who recently completed an international security mission in Haiti were recognized for their service and commitment. In a ceremony hosted last month by the Ministry of National Defence and Border Security along with Headquarters BDF, Lieutenant Colonel Ermil Coh and Captain Claudio Quiroz were officially awarded mission medals for their participation in the CARICOM Joint Task Force deployment to Haiti.  The ceremony was held in the presence of senior military leadership and members of the recipients’ respective units, with Minister of National Defence and Border Security Florencio Marin Junior pinning the medals on the officers.  Commander of the Belize Defence Force, Brigadier General Anthony Velasquez, says the recognition reflects not only the dedication of the two officers, but also Belize’s ongoing commitment to regional security cooperation.

Lieutenant Colonel Coh and Captain Quiroz were deployed to Haiti on September 12, 2024 as part of the CARICOM Joint Task Force made up of personnel from The Bahamas, Belize, and Jamaica. During their seven-and-a-half-month deployment, the officers integrated with the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti, which was established to assist in restoring peace and security amid escalating gang violence in that country.  The Belize Defence Force says the officers contributed in both operational and linguistic capacities during the mission before their deployment officially ended on April 15 this year, when a second CARICOM contingent assumed responsibilities./