Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BELMOPAN265
2008-05-23 19:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Belmopan
Cable title:  

BELIZE SECURITY ASSESSMENT

Tags:  PTER PREL MASS MOPS XL BH 
pdf how-to read a cable
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P 231919Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY BELMOPAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1300
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
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RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0004
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RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 0003
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RHMFISS/FBI WASHDC
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0004
C O N F I D E N T I A L BELMOPAN 000265 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR MICHAEL FORTIN AND WHA GIOVANNI SNIDLE
STATE PLEASE PASS TO DEA WASHINGTON DC
STATE PLEASE PASS TO DCA WASHINGTON DC
STATE PLEASE PASS TO OSD WASHINGTON DC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2018
TAGS: PTER PREL MASS MOPS XL BH
SUBJECT: BELIZE SECURITY ASSESSMENT

REF: STATE 51747

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Leonard Hill, Reasons 1.4(b)(d)
.

C O N F I D E N T I A L BELMOPAN 000265

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR MICHAEL FORTIN AND WHA GIOVANNI SNIDLE
STATE PLEASE PASS TO DEA WASHINGTON DC
STATE PLEASE PASS TO DCA WASHINGTON DC
STATE PLEASE PASS TO OSD WASHINGTON DC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2018
TAGS: PTER PREL MASS MOPS XL BH
SUBJECT: BELIZE SECURITY ASSESSMENT

REF: STATE 51747

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Leonard Hill, Reasons 1.4(b)(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. Programs to reduce corruption and improve
governance remain important. A new government elected in
February has shown greater willingness than its predecessor
to work closely with us and has requested funding for
specific law enforcement and security goals. 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 different from that of CARICOM neighbors, is not moving
in a positive direction. 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 CARICOM. We anticipate that Belize would
also seek to foster law enforcement cooperation between
Central America (SICA countries) and CARICOM.

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 useful as a way to combine efforts with
other 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. Drug related violence is a growing problem. 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" 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 from
other countries.


6. (C) Belize could benefit from being part of a regional
anti-gang strategy that would also include Central American
countries. The focus here would be on prevention: educating
youth; doing more, and more effective, community policing in
areas likely to be afflicted by gangs; seeing 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
department 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.

GOVERNANCE
--------------


8. (C) 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 grew to major proportions during the previous
government. That may be changing (see Para 10 and 11) but
public confidence in institutions like the police is low,
although the military and Coast Guard are still held in
relatively high esteem. 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
think the new government represents an important opportunity
for those who want to see positive change.

UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT
--------------


10. (C) The February 2008 election brought to power a
government that seems to take security, law enforcement and
anti-corruption issues more seriously than did its
predecessor. From the first meetings the Ambassador had with
Prime Minister Barrow, Attorney General/Foreign Minister
Elrington and National Security Minister Perdomo, the GOB has
been saying the right things about wanting to work closely
with us to go after drug trafficking and other security
threats. The new government has been receptive to
recommendations from DEA and the RSO on where the police
department can be improved. The government has also sought
USG help in developing its capability to deal with at-risk
youth and intervene before teenagers fall into gangs.


11. (C) The government appreciates our strong continuing
support for the Belize Defense Force, including
counterterrorism training, and our role in creating a viable
Coast Guard. Specific new assistance requests from Cabinet
members to us (all reported in previous cables) include:

-- Vetting for police, counterterrorism and immigration
officers

-- Wireless intercept capability for intelligence gathering
and targeting

-- Additional specific police training, including
counternarcotics

-- Assistance for the Department of Public Prosecutions to
enable better prosecution of crimes

-- Forensic audit assistance to determine where government
assets have been misappropriated

-- Assistance for the Financial Intelligence Unit to improve
its investigative capability

-- Creation of a DNA lab

-- Gang prevention assistance

-- National crime information management system

-- Improved border information management.
HILL