Belize Government Considers Deployment of Military Personnel to Haiti Relief Mission

The Government of Belize is yet to confirm the deployment of military personnel to Haiti as part of a relief team, comprised of several nations, and led by Kenya.  Cabinet met yesterday, and according to reports, the country’s stance remains the same – which is to ensure that certain conditions are met prior to sending our soldiers off to Haiti.  We understand that the team would be comprised of members of the Belize Defence Force and the Belize Coast Guard.  Police Commissioner Chester Williams, however, has indicated that he would be open to deploying police officers as well.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: “Yes officers have approached and said that if there should be a deployment here, they would like to go. Again, police officers are aware that when it comes to the nature of our work we’re subject to be deployed anywhere across the country. And if needs be to go and do peace mission in other countries then that is the case. Every year we have operation Tradewinds and operation Tradewinds do prepare the members states for situations like these in the event that they need to gather troops from different countries to go and assist other countries. And while some of us might look and say, but why go to Haiti when we have our own issues at home? We must understand that we have our own issues that could eventually lead to us requiring our counterparts or our neighboring countries to come in and assist us in the event that, let’s say for example, something Guatemala. And so we cannot sit and say that we should not help because it is not our problem. Sometimes other people’s problem could end up becoming ours and sometimes we may find ourselves in positions where we would need assistance from others and if we are not willing to assist now, what would then trigger other countries to assist us if or when we need assistance. So we need to strike a balance in terms of what we say and decisions that we would make. But at the end of the day, it’s a matter for the prime minister to decide if, in fact, police officers are going to Haiti and if that is the case when and how much police officers. As a Commissioner of Police, I will yield to the directives given by the prime minister, who is the Chief in this country in terms of the deployment of security forces. In America they say he’s the Commander in Chief right so we abide by instructions.”