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Right about now there will be a barrage of gunshots and explosions in the area of the Roger’s Stadium. But don’t panic, the live firings, including the launch of smoke grenades and battle simulations are part of the annual military and police tattoo. 250 soldiers in addition to police officers and firemen are participating. The tattoo has changed venue because the Marion Jones Stadium is under renovation but the BDF’s Major Anthony Velasquez says that is about the only thing that has changed.

Major Anthony Velasquez, BDF
“We will involve the BDF doing mock battle displays, unarmed combat display, hostage rescue, and vehicle anti-ambush. We also have the Police Department doing public order display and k-9 unit display. The National Fire Service will be here doing their extinguisher drill, obstacle drill. This year we will also have other agencies, organizations such as the Belize Disaster and Rescue Response Team doing a rescue display. We will have the KBH k-9 services doing an attack dog simulation and we will also have the Belize Judo Association doing a judo display for us.

Seating arrangement here is for about 2,000 to 2,500 people and we will be able to accommodate those people seating. For the other people who come, it will be so much fun that they won’t even know that they are standing because of the heart racing excitement we will be having out here.

It is clean fun family excitement, lot of bangs, lots of gunfire simulation, the prices are very affordable for the family – it is $3 for adult and $2 for children.”

Keith Swift,
What do you think makes this event attractive to the public?

Major Anthony Velasquez,
“People are always interested in military type activities, the bangs that you hear. I am sure people have heard the bangs during our rehearsals in the city. There is gunfire simulation. The security oriented services here in Belize, people are always interested in what they do and how they perform their duties and this is an excellent opportunity for us to show the public what we do and for the public to see what we do in a fun filled excited environment.”

The show was scheduled to start at 5:45. One consequential change not mentioned is that BATSUB will not be participating this year – because the staging area is too small for their helicopter to land. Entrance again is $3 for adults and $2 for children.