7 News Belize

"Extortion, Maltreatment, Sexual Assault And Sexual Advances" At Bdf Recruit Training
posted (January 30, 2020)

106 new BDF soldiers - 6 of them women - will have their formal passing out tomorrow at Price Barracks in Ladyville.  But, they will do so under a cloud - because varied and vile sexual improprieties are alleged to have occurred during their basic training.  And, the allegation is that it came down form the senior personell who was in charge of the training and the female recruits. 

A press release this evening says the BDF is currently investigating, quote "alleged misconduct of extortion, maltreatment, sexual assault and sexual advances at Training Company.The BDF views every single case of sexual assault as a failure to manage and enforce the standard procedures that are in place to protect the recruits that were in training. This matter will be investigated thoroughly and will be dealt with accordingly.The Commander of the Belize Defence Force Brigadier General Steven Ortega finds these occurrences to be grossly unacceptable and will ensure that the procedures are reviewed to prevent any such reoccurrence." End quote.

The release continues that The Minister of National Security has assigned a special investigative team led by Assistant Superintendent of Police Sherlette Ramclam, and includes Inspector Shaida Mckenzie, Lead Investigator at the Crimes Investigation Branch in Belize City; Ms. Josephine Garbutt, Senior Administrative Officer at the Ministry of National Security; and retired Commissioner of Police Gerald Westby.

The release closes by saying, the Ministry will act swiftly to ensure the complaints are investigated thoroughly and those found in violation will be dealt with to the full extent of the law.

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