Posted: Wednesday, July 16, 2025. 7:33 pm CST.
By Aaron Humes: The Belize Defence Force (BDF) is set for a change in command as announced by Minister of Border Defence and National Security Oscar Mira last Friday.
Current Commandant Brigadier General Azariel Loria has reached retirement age after 32 years on the Force, the last four in charge, but Minister Mira told reporters, “we didn’t have the change of command when it was scheduled for some national security reason, but it is going to happen.”
Today, General Loria informed that his contract expires on December 21, but his term has been extended until enforced pre-retirement leave begins in October.
His tenure, he said, was marked by “back to the basics” of military life after a feeling that the Force had “regressed” from its natural role, alluding to the use of BDF soldiers as support for the Police: “The BDF was the BDF back then, but slowly we regressed, regressed, regressed – I was talking to the soldiers – until we didn’t feel like soldiers, what we were doing was soldier work.”
Part of that was the upkeep of the Force’s installations, which had become “dilapidated,” such as Price Barracks in Ladyville, Fairweather Camp, and the Forward Operating Base on the Sarstoon, and improving soldier morale. He acknowledged that there is still some catching up on rebuilding permanent infrastructure, including the famous all-zinc huts at Price Barracks.
As for a replacement, both Minister Mira and General Loria would not be drawn on a favorite, each saying that there are “several candidates” to be evaluated and that the General would be able to make recommendations.
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Posted: Wednesday, July 16, 2025. 7:33 pm CST. By Aaron Humes: The Belize Defence Force (BDF) is set for a change in command as announced by
The post Brigadier General Azariel Loria reaches end of tenure; who will replace him? appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
