7 News Belize

Soldiers Scolded For Quarantine Escapees
posted (June 19, 2020)
We also asked the BDF Commander about those escapes that happened at 2 quarantine centers: 1 in Corozal and the other in Dangriga.

Last month, the Belize Coast Guard caught 3 Mexicans illegally fishing in the Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve. They were supposed to have been quarantined for 14 days at the ITVET building in Corozal, but somehow, all 3 escaped.

Then as we told you, 4 Belizean border jumpers escaped a few days ago from the Chiste Garcia Stadium in Dangriga.

Fingers were being pointed at the BDF, and so, we asked the commander to address those cases dereliction. Here's that conversation:

Brig. Gen. Steven Ortega - Commander, BDF
"The one in Corozal, we've dealt with already. The people escaped, and we were at fault. So, we have dealt with that."

Reporter
"Dealt with how?"

Brig. Gen. Steven Ortega
"Disciplinary [charges]."

Reporter
"How many soldiers were disciplined in that regard, and are they still performing these same duties?"

Brig. Gen. Steven Ortega
"No, they are not there anymore. They were moved from there. Concerning the one down in Dangriga, that is something that we're still investigating to what factors lead to that escape, and what measures we need to put in place to mitigate further, some like that from happening again."

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