In August of last year, the Minister of National Security broke ground for a new Coast Guard Base at the Bacalar Chico area of Northern Ambergris Caye - more than 15 miles from the town.
It's an unpopulated and fairly remote area, which is policed only sporadically, and that has made it the ideal target for wet drops by drug cartels. That drug activity drives much of the homicidal violence in San Pedro and other parts of the country.
Now, the Ministry of National Security is seeking to put a permanent security presence at the source of these wet drops. After almost a year of construction, their new patrol base is now finished.
They invited the press today for the inauguration ceremony, and Daniel Ortiz was there. Here's his report:
Daniel Ortiz reporting
This is the Belize Coast Guard's Bacalar Chico Patrol Base. Newly constructed, this facility is now operational, and it is the Ministry of National Security's answer to the lawlessness that Northern Ambergris Caye has become infamous for.
The hope is that with the Coast Guard's permanent presence here, it will no longer be a hotspot for the cocaine transshipment and other transnational organized crimes that have been a constant feature of this part of the island.
Hon. John Saldivar - Minister of National Security
"There is a lot of criminal activities that takes place on this side of Northern Ambergris. For years we've known that we had to put a permanent presence out here. We have had a make-shift or temporary along here, but we have now establish a permanent presence and that we hope will help to curb some of the illicit activities that happen in this area and the important thing about it is that the illicit activities that happen in this area really drives crime throughout the country, whether it be Belize City or any other part of the country. What takes place here in Northern Ambergris drives the crime in the rest of the country."
Reporter
"Sir do you believe that this base will deter these international drug peddlers because they can be persistent especially when it comes to cocaine and what is found in this area?"
Hon. John Saldivar
"We are very hopeful that it is going to curb the activities. We are very hopeful that it will discourage these criminals from working in this area."
At a cost of approximately $200,000, this patrol base is able to comfortably house a contingent of coast guard officers. There are obvious limitations of electricity, and access to drinking water, but there are workarounds in place to address both needs.
Hon. John Saldivar
"As you have seen up there proper sleeping facilities, bathroom facilities. Water is going to be a problem if we don't get a lot of rain but right now we are going to depend on the rain to catch water for them. This is one of the better facilities in terms of the amenities. The coast guard really leads the way in terms of providing proper accommodations for their people."
Reporter
"And they have adequate communications devices?"
Hon. John Saldivar
"Yes, we have radio communications and we are in constant in touch with the base."
This particular area is a security concern, due to its isolation, and the officers who will stand guard here will have to be hyper-vigilant.
Hon. John Saldivar
"When I became the Minister of National Security it was only a few months after that our forces came under attack here in almost this location and there were some civilian casualties. It highlighted for us the situation that was confronting us in Northern Ambergris Caye."
"In 2012 our people actually came under fire from the criminal elements who operate out of this area. In deed it is dangerous for our security forces, but I am confident that they are properly trained to deal with any situation that may arise."
And if there is any major national security incident in the area, backup and aid can be dispatched from the Coast Guard's other facility in San Pedro.
Hon. John Saldivar
"It is hoped that this particular base will going to have enough resources to be able to deal with most of the routine stuff. If they do need assistance, San Pedro is very close by another hour or so away and they also will be able to assist. Right here we hope to have a self-contained base that is able to respond. In terms of vessels we have large vessels, we are going to get some smaller vessels that is able to navigate on shallow waters. This is going to be pretty much a self-contained base."
Saldivar is hoping that that the Bacalar Chico base will become self-sustaining.
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