On May 15, 2023, the Ministry of Economic Development handed over communications equipment to the Belize Defence Force. Dr. Osmond Martinez, chief executive officer in the Ministry of Economic Development, presented the equipment, valued at BZ$146,450, to Hon. Oscar Mira, Minister of State in the Ministry of National Defence and Border Security.
The equipment was procured under the Belize Integral Security Programme (BISP), a BZ$60-million project funded by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), which is intended to strengthen the capacity of the BDF, enabling officers to provide improved security for citizens.
The communications equipment comprises 10 sets of mobile-based stations, repeaters, and handheld radios with integrated software, and a range of different fixed and mobile antennas, which can be used in urban and jungle settings. These radios will be utilized to improve communications for the BDF during their jungle patrols and in times of disaster.
The equipment is the first portion of a package that will be deployed to the different outposts and is expected to be procured later this year. At the conclusion of this project, the BDF will be the beneficiary of a total investment of BZ$13 million, including infrastructure works and equipment.
Present at the handing over were Retired Brigadier General Dario Tapia, CEO in the Ministry of National Defence and Border Security; Brigadier General Azariel Loria, Commander of the BDF; and Mr. Elvis Requena, Project Coordinator, BISP.
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