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That's the forward operating base that was nearing completion when it ground to a screeching halt because the public learnt that it was a Guatemalan company that was constructing it. Well, after months of trying to get a new contractor to finish it, the construction resumes. Here's how the Defense Minister announced it, and how the Coast Guard Commandant discussed a number of other projects on the near horizon:

Hon. John Saldivar, Minister of Defence
"I am also happy to be able to report that work has re-commenced on the construction of the Hunting Caye forward operating base."

Admiral John Borland - Commandant, Belize Coast Guard
"On the immediate horizon is the construction of our sector headquarters down in Big Creek, which we refer to as Coast Guard Sector South. We are now in the process of doing the landfill and as soon as that landfill is done, hopefully before the end of the first quarter next year, we will be breaking ground on that project and that's a tremendous project that will open up new horizons for the coast guard - deploying 150 men to that location on a one year deployment with their share of assets and resources to manned and to maintain and to shore-up the southern sector. So that's big on the horizon."

"The other thing is the construction of our patrol base on Northern Ambergris Caye. We finally come to terms with the land lease arrangements. So that itself is a milestone for us. So, that was what was holding us back - getting the land acquisition sorted out. I expect by the end of 2017 that patrol base will be completed. To compliment that patrol that is out there 365 days a year on foot patrol. They need a patrol base from which to operate. Then the other one is a station in Punta Gorda. The people of the south as you heard on the news a year or two years now are clamoring, requesting a coast guard presence and that is beside our partnership that we have at the Sarstoon forward operating base with the BDF. The Coast Guard will have its own independent station to take care of that entire Port Honduras area, the area in front of PG between PG and Barranco."

Hon. John Saldivar, Minister of Defence
"Plans are already in effect for the acquisition of two future large patrol boats in the form of two SEA AXE class 100 foot offshore patrol boat. These boats will be acquired at a cost in excess of 12 Million US dollars."

Admiral John Borland - Commandant, Belize Coast Guard
"That is a part of what we called the CABEI project - The Belize Integral Security Project and the coast guard is included in the third phase of that project. We are trying to fast track it for coast guard to be brought up perhaps to the second phase. What it means though is that we are 18 out for our project to hit the ground. But that is, I don't want to say written in stones, but is already approved. It's there in the books and it's a matter of timing now. The vessels you were referring to are what we called the 3007 SEA AXE coastal patrol boats. Those vessels will give us the blue water capability that's been written in our strategy from the short term. But things take time and we are very grateful that finally its coming to fruition and these are going to be like the minister said, national security assets. The coast guard is going to manage them and operate them and take care of them. They belong to everyone in this country."

These Sea Axe Class Coastal Patrol Boats are 100 foot vessels which are being referred to as "National Security Cutters", meaning they will move about Belize's entire marine territorial waters. Their flexibility will allow the Coast Guard to take on marine enforcement missions, as well as humanitarian missions, such as search and rescue.