7 News Belize

For the past two weeks, the Tradewinds military training event has been staged in Belize. It is an initiative of the US army with support from the BDF and Batsub. Today we visited the closing ceremony:

Jules Vasquez Reporting,
Forces from 16 nations marched past on the parade square for the culmination of Tradewinds 2010. A total of 515 military personnel descended on Belize for two weeks. They received training in a number of disciplines focused on law enforcement. Training was done by the US Marine Corps, the Coast Guard, the FBI and NCIS. In its 26th year, the annual exercise in is organized by the US Southern Command and, this time, they invited nations from the wider Caribbean basin.

Brigadier General Dario Tapia, Belize Defense Force,
"This year's Tradewinds was unique as we move forward from the traditional partners of the Caribbean nations and we now have started to include the partner nations of Central America. This year, we had the participation of Nicaragua, Guatemala and Panama. The transnational threats that we all face today require that we have a regional and inter-agency approach to combating them. Expanding the participation to other regional nations holds true to the meaning of the saying that has become increasingly popular - that regional problems require regional solutions."

Major General, Cornell A. Wilson, Jr., Commander, US Marine Corps,
"The United States and the nations of the Caribbean Basin share a common interest, our culture and history. And we face common threats. As you know, criminals and terrorists do not need passports, nor do they respect borders."

Jules Vasquez,
"And while the United States' interest in regional security threats begins and ends with their domestic priorities â€“ at the same time, it provides otherwise unavialable training ground for Caribbean basin forces:"

Private Elmer Coc, BDF,
"The difference is that in BDF, we usually use the blocking shield but the US Marines taught us to use non-electric shields. It's very hard to hold. It's very difficult. It needs strength and tactics. But the Marines have taught us everything what we need to learn and we use tasers â€“ it's like electric things -- and non-lethal pepper sprays. That's what we use. That's the first time I'm using those equipments."

Second Lt. Fernando Savery, RNA, Suriname Armed Forces,
"The FBI, they brought some urban assault acts -that they learnt in the field, like lessons learned. And then they teach again for us. They got more experience. They are meeting more the criminal acts on a higher level on a higher scale than we in the Caribbean countries. So I know I am taking back some stuff that's a little more modified than what we were using before."

Cpl. Refoleno Fenlo, RNA, Suriname Armed Forces,
"Yes, I am going back with a pocketful of knowledge and I'm gonna bring it over to my other solders that not be able to get the chance to be in the Tradewinds."

Darnella Mackey, Bahamas Defence Force,
"The course that I did was martial arts. I'm the first woman to participate in martial arts. I did very well. It was something different, the maneuverings, it was something different. The challenge was great! Yes."

Captain Oliver Martinez, Panama,
"I participated in marksman and close-quarter combat. We have two very highly intense weekends shooting and doing urban combat. It's a little bit pain for the paintballs on your skin but its worth it. We learned a lot. We have many things to teach in our country when we [go] back."

Jules Vasquez,
And while training is one thing â€“ fraternity among fighting forces is another

Captain Oliver Martinez, Panama,
"This is a huge experience. From [the] Caribbean, I only knew Trinidad and Tobago. And this kind of culture, this kind of people here, they are very gentle. We help each other. We have a good fellowship. I think, doing this kind of exercise, we can develop more fellowship around Central America and the Caribbean."

Major Dave Walker, JDF, Jamaica,
"We have found Tradewinds to be quite valuable. It was run as a series of short courses. Some of the information was stuff that we were familiar with. Some of it was new. But, all in all, whether it was refresher or just exposing us to new things, we found it to be quite valuable, particularly for the sort of role that the military plays in Jamaica."

"Its good because we make friends across the Caribbean. which is always good. You never know where you might end up next. And the other thing is that you never know when you might need to work together as in a situation with Haiti or any other natural disaster."

The nations that participated in Exercise Tradewinds 2010 are Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama, Kitts-Nevis, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Suriname, United Kingdom and United States.