We also asked the BDF Commander about the status of the BDF's two helicopters. Recently reports emerged that they were out of commission - and a private helicopter service had to the hired to fly an injured soldiers from one of the southern observation posts. Today he told us the choppers are just plain old:
Reporter
"What is the status right now with the function of the helicopters?"
Brig. Gen. Steven Ortega, Commander, Belize Defence Force
"As you know we have one presently. I believe you've seen it flying around and we have reported it in the media already and the other one we should get it up come BDF Day because as you know those helicopters are from the Vietnam era. The parts are very hard to find and the difficulty is not only getting the parts, but getting it in country also poses some challenges which we are trying to work through and trying to get a supplier who can actually provide it for us in a timely manner, because timeliness is key, because the parts are not readily available."
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