Belmopan – The U.S. Embassy and the Government of Belize today inaugurated two newly renovated buildings to serve as lodging for Belizean military troops at the Belize Defence Force Price Barracks compound. U.S. Southern Command funded the US$247,000 renovations as part of Exercise Tradewinds 2022. Tradewinds 2022 is a multinational exercise to expand the Caribbean region’s capability to mitigate, plan for, and respond to crises and increase regional interoperability.
The donated barracks will provide quality accommodations for BDF soldiers attached to the Light Engineering Company and can house 66 personnel. “The United States is steadfastly committed to help Belize sharpen disaster readiness and security,” said the head of the U.S. Embassy Security Cooperation Office Major Jason Booth. “We are proud of the partnership we have built with the Belize Defence Force as we work together to address threats posed by transnational organized crime and conduct disaster relief operations. We are honored to donate these buildings in support of ongoing BDF security operations.”
Belize Defence Force Commander General Azariel Loria said, “The BDF is grateful for the generous contribution from the government and the people of the United States. Comfort and welfare of the troops have become my top priority, good ideas and productivity start from where you lay.”
For years, the United States Department of Defense and the Belize Defence Force have worked together to confront transnational security threats, strengthen disaster response readiness, enhance Coast Guard operations to confront narcotrafficking and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and to enhance regional humanitarian cooperation, including health security.
