Back in January, we reported on allegations of sexual impropriety
between BDF recruits and their superior officers. Those reports spurred
an investigation, and earlier this week, a verbose press release
announced that the investigation was concluded, but if offered no
concrete findings.
And then, yesterday, the other shoe dropped when a BDF Staff Sergeant,
was charged for rape of a female soldier. 14 year veteran for the BDF,
Margarito Pop appeared in Belize City Magistrate's Court where he was
read a single charge of rape for an incident that allegedly happened in
the female soldier's room on May 20th.
Earlier this week we asked the Minister of National Security in a phone
interview what actions - if any - have been taken against the accused:
Jules Vasquez
"And what measures or actions have been taken against this senior officer."
Hon. Mike Peyrefitte - Minister of National Security
"There is nothing to suggest that that particular senior officer broke any
- at this point, so far the investigations have not revealed that any
infractions from a BDF standpoint. But, let's just say this, it's an
allegation and whatever infractions that soldier may have committed, the
BDF ones will be dealt with by the BDF and that is separate and apart from
the serious criminal charge of rape. If it is found out for example then
that an officer was in a room with a female, and that in itself was
inappropriate then the BDF would deal with that from a BDF punishment
standpoint but when it comes to the actual rape itself then the police
would deal with that."
Jules Vasquez
"Are there going to be structural changes to make sure that no one is
victimised and there are no inappropriate advances - we've been told that
there is a culture of sexual harassment in the BDF."
Hon. Mike Peyrefitte
"I totally reject that there is a culture of it. What happens is that the
rules are strict and the structures are there."
Jules Vasquez
"We know that predominantly, the BDF as a fighting force, as a force is
predominantly male. One wonders who comprised the investigation team if
they were also male and how this culture of maleness may have affected the
outcome or interpretation of certain events."
Hon. Mike Peyrefitte
"But indeed similarly to the police department, it's male dominated because
there are departments that usually require brute force to be used if
necessary and for the most part we have found that females don't
necessarily want to be a part of that type of action. but we do have
females who join and, and we value them and we don't look upon them as
females as opposed to males; a BDF soldier is a BDF soldier whether that
person is male or female. And whoever is in charge of the investigation I
can assure you will not slight any person because they are female nor side
with any person simply because they are male."
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