US Embassy monitoring Minister Saldivar’s use of Coast Guard vessels

By BBN Staff: The US Embassy in Belize is aware of a situation in which Defense Minister, John Saldivar has reportedly used U.S. donated Coast Guard vessels and fuel to ferry his privately owned Bandits team to and from San Pedro for games on the island, according to a report by The Reporter.

According to The Reporter, the Embassy issued a statement saying:  “The U.S. government has provided training and equipment, including boats, to the Belize Coast Guard.  The primary purpose of these vessels is to deter and interdict criminal activity, particularly in support of counter-narcotics efforts.”

The US Embassy is reportedly making notes of the reports and has acknowledged being made aware of the situation. Those reports indicate that on several occasions Coast Guard boats, as many as three at a time, with Coast Guard personnel on-board have been used to privately escort the Belmopan Bandits.

The allegation is that in addition to team members, their family members, the management and friends are taken to San Pedro for games which the Bandits are scheduled to play on the island, which is not standard procedure.

CEO in the Ministry of Defense Felix Enriquez was not available for comment.