7 News Belize

What Will Airstrip Security Measures Look Like Now?
posted (April 17, 2025)
Untitled Document And as you heard from the Belize Airport Authority, they had already planned to beef up security this year, and they emphasized that the new measures that will be implement are not purely reactionary.

But the ComPol also explained that they will need to sit down with the relevant authorities to ensure that the municipals airstrips have more security.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"I'm sure this is going to be something that is going to be discussed intensely at the next national security council meeting. I know we have commenced dialogue in terms of looking at our local flight security. The time has come for us to look at it more inedibly and see what adjustments can be made, I am sure that there is going to be input from the airport authority in this respect so it's a matter more for the national security council to determine what is going to be done moving forward where security on these planes are concerned."

"What we have done at the different airstrips is to increase police patrols at these areas at least hourly the police would go and make checks at the airstrips and make sure everything is okay but in terms of posting police officers at the airstrips we have not gotten there yet but we have encouraged the airlines to hire local security to man their assets at the different airstrips."

"Certainly there is a lot of lessons to be learned from here and I was discussing with myself, Mr Rosado and the I think major and captain from the BDF that we need to sit-down and do an after action assessment of the entire situation today and see what were the lessons learned, how best can we improve should there be any future event which we hope that there is going to be done but certainly security, security security at the airport, at the airstrips that are used for commercial purposes is important so the greatest lesson learned from this is to not take nothing for granted ensuring we have proper systems in place to be able to check all passengers who are going to board these flights before they leave any particular area."

And as of this afternoon, directives to the police department are that one officer is to be placed at the municipal airstrip during opening hours, which is 6 in the morning to 6 at night, everyday including weekends and holidays. Shift supervisors were advised to make the necessary rotations so that there is full time coverage. They will also be allowed to conduct searches on passengers if there is reasonable suspicion.

A statement from the Department of Civil Aviation says, quote, "It is important to note that discussions to enhance airport security at domestic terminals were already in progress before this incident, including negotiations with specialized security service providers. While there is currently no indication that this event is linked to any broader threat, we are taking decisive action. As a precaution and in the interest of public safety, enhanced security measures will be implemented across all domestic airports effective immediately." End quote.

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