ACTION REQUEST: POST'S ASSESSMENT OF CENTRAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L BELMOPAN 000494

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CEN
SAN SALVADOR FOR LEGATT AND URA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/01/2017
TAGS: PREL PINS PTER BH
SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: POST'S ASSESSMENT OF CENTRAL
AMERICA SECURITY REQUIREMENTS

REF: SECSTATE 107145

Classified By: Charge Leonard A. Hill for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Our assessment, based on discussions within
Country Team and with regional law enforcement officers
covering Belize, is that inclusion in regional efforts to
strengthen border protection and to combat alien smuggling
would be of great benefit. Anti-gang efforts aimed at
preventing gangs from becoming rooted here would also be
extremely useful. And as with many countries in the region,
official corruption in Belize is a major obstacle to better
law enforcement and an improved security situation, so
regional efforts aimed at addressing corruption -- while not
necessarily always welcome from the government's perspective
-- are necessary. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Embassy appreciates the opportunity to comment on
security requirements for Belize as part of a broader
regional strategy. We note that the crime situation here,
while quite different from that of neighboring countries, is
not moving in a positive direction. Particularly since the
termination of INL programs here, Belize could definitely
benefit from inclusion in regional programs, and at a
political level would welcome the opportunity to expand the
activities and effectiveness of SICA. We anticipate that
Belize would also seek to foster law enforcement cooperation
between SICA and CARICOM. Given the country's small
population and lack of resources, even small amounts of money
go a long way here.

POROUS BORDERS
--------------


3. (C) From our perspective the major security problem
Belize faces stems from lack of control over its borders.
Alien, drug and arms smuggling are serious problems that are
not getting better. Corruption allegations have reached the
top ranks of the Immigration and Customs departments, and
problems appear pervasive at the police working levels. The
Embassy has made some headway with the establishment of a
small Belize National Coast Guard and the use of Enduring
Friendship money to equip and train a military Special Boat
Unit for border patrols. Through military and other channels
we are providing training and equipment to help Belize better
control its borders and airspace.


4. (C) Ultimately, the problem with border control and
alien smuggling comes down to personnel resources. Belize
has large land and maritime borders and a population of less
than 300,000. Employing huge numbers of people to guard the
borders simply isn't practical or economically viable.
Inclusion in an effective regional border control program,
however, could be extremely useful as a way to combine
efforts with neighboring countries to make the most of the
relatively few people that Belize can deploy for this task.

GANG PREVENTION
--------------


5. (C) The gangs currently operating in Belize are largely
home-grown neighborhood affairs focusing on the retail drug
trade. Belize does not yet seem to have well-established
transnational gangs, but indications are that this situation
will not last much longer. MS-13 "tags" believed to be
associated with shipments of drugs and weapons through Belize
have been spotted in several areas of the country and our
assessment is that it is only a matter of time before
organized violent gangs start to move in.


6. (C) Belize could benefit from being part of a regional
anti-gang strategy. The focus here would be on prevention:
educating youth; doing more, and more effective, community
policing in areas likely to be afflicted by gangs; sharing
information on regional best practices for legislation; and
training police and prosecutors to investigate and prosecute
gang-related crime. Another useful idea is that of exchanges
between police departments in the region and in cities like

Los Angeles where there is significant expertise in
preventing and combating gangs.


7. (C) We understand that LEGATT San Salvador is
considering establishing a Regional Anti-Gang Officer
position. We believe that Belize could benefit from
inclusion in this program.

CORRUPTION
--------------


8. (C) Last but by far not least, Belize needs to be
included in regional efforts to combat corruption. Our sense
is that the corruption among government officials (elected as
well as public servants) and the police is growing to major
proportions. Public confidence in institutions like the
police continues to slip, and there seems to be no impetus at
the political level to turn this around. From our
perspective anti-corruption efforts are fundamental to
anything we want to do in the security sphere. If the
community has no confidence in the police, in immigration, in
customs, then much of the time, money and effort we expend to
improve border security or to prevent gang formation will be
wasted.


9. (C) The anti-corruption aspect of the strategy will be
the hardest to craft and execute, but in the end it is
probably the most important. Without it, we have a difficult
time seeing how corrupt individuals and institutions which
lack public support can possibly be effective in improving
the country's -- or the region's -- security situation. We
expect a lot of resistance to anti-corruption initiatives
from those benefiting from the current state of affairs, but
the effort has to be made.
HILL