Morale inside the Belize Defense Force is slipping, and retired Major Lloyd Jones says poor leadership is a big reason why. Jones says he has been speaking directly with active BDF soldiers, and what he is hearing points to deep frustration among the ranks. According to him, some officers in leadership positions are failing to stand up for their soldiers when it matters most. Here is how he explains it.
Major Lloyd Jones (Ret’d), Former BDF Officer
“Soldiers look to the officers for leadership. In the BDF we have two sets of members, officers and soldiers and they seldom mix, unlike the police where you can go from constable to commissioner. So, you can join and work your way to commissioner. BDF has what we call a professional officer core. That is what you see in the U.S. army, the British army and other professional armies, separate tracks and it is the officers that provide the leadership. So, your action or inactions impact on the soldiers. So, when you as an officer don’t have the moral courage to speak truth to power, or lie to those in positions of power, the soldiers lose their respect for you. How can say everything is fine here, but you know very well on the camps. I really wish the media would insist on visiting the camps and you will be appalled about the conditions on which the soldiers live. And it is the duty of the officers to fight for the resources for the soldiers.”
Jones further contends that the reported lack of adequate resources has forced some members to borrow uniforms from their soldiers and officers.
Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.
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