In July 2026, just six months after Brigadier General Anthony Velasquez took command of the Belize Defence Force (BDF) in late January, the new leader has stepped forward to address public scrutiny over millions of dollars in defense ministry supply spending, while also outlining the force’s ongoing modernization and expansion goals.
For weeks, local observers have raised questions about a pattern of defense supply invoices that consistently fall just under the $10,000 reporting threshold, prompting public curiosity over whether recorded purchases actually align with the supplies the BDF consumes. In an interview with local media outlet News Five, Velasquez noted that he can only speak to operations during his tenure, but confirmed that personnel consumption accounts for the single largest portion of the BDF’s supply spending.
“As the largest consumer of government feeding expenditures across all Belize’s public agencies, we operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, providing three full meals daily to all personnel, even those deployed to remote posts across the country,” Velasquez explained. “Since taking command in January, ensuring our soldiers receive consistent, high-quality food from approved vendors that deliver to Price Barracks has been a top priority. Every supply we receive goes directly to feeding our personnel, that is a guarantee.”
When asked how ongoing public scrutiny of the spending has impacted daily supply operations, Velasquez emphasized that core logistics work cannot stop, even amid questions about past procurement practices. “Soldiers have to eat, so the supply process continues without interruption,” he stated. “Vendors and contractors pre-approved by the Ministry of Defense continue to fulfill their contracts, make deliveries, and we continue to receive and use those supplies as needed.” He added that the BDF retains input on procurement requirements, and can submit specific requests for the ministry to source through its existing supplier network.
Beyond spending questions, Velasquez also discussed the BDF’s ongoing expansion and modernization push, which recently welcomed more than 130 new recruits into the force. Growing personnel numbers, he explained, is a core component of the BDF’s broader modernization strategy, designed to strengthen national security coverage across all of Belize and improve the force’s ability to respond to emerging security threats.
Reflecting on the transformative impact of military recruit training, Velasquez drew on his own experience entering service at age 18. “Recruit training is a life-changing experience. I entered as a civilian and left as a soldier,” he said. “The process reshapes how you think: civilian life centers on individual and immediate family needs, but recruit training molds recruits into cohesive teams, where every member is responsible for not letting their teammates down. Trainees learn military protocol, how to collaborate, and absorb core military values of resilience, sacrifice, and devotion to duty. By the end of training, they are completely different people, ready to serve their country.”
Velasquez confirmed that the BDF will launch a second recruitment drive later this year to continue expanding force numbers to meet modern security needs. This report is a transcribed excerpt from News Five’s evening television broadcast.