2006 Press Releases

Commander of U.S. Southern Command General Bantz J. Craddock visits Belize to attend the seventh annual Central American Security Conference (April 18-20, 2006)

(L-R) Major General R.H. Calderon Vindell (Nicaragua), Major General R.C. Leira Rodriguez (Guatemala), Brigadier General Levyn Andrade (El Salvador), Brigadier General L.A. Gillett (Belize), Minister of Defence Hon. Cordel Hyde (Belize), General B.J. Craddock (USA), Major General A.A. Disla (Dominican Republic), Major General R.O. Vasquez Velasquez (Honduras) and Brigadier General E. Ceballas (Colombia)

Security Chiefs from countries in Central America gather in Belize City for a three-day conference under the theme "Security in Central America - Defining the Metrics". 

The conference is co-hosted by the Belize Defence Force and its objectives include providing an open forum on regional security threats, border security and increased regional security cooperation and helping to foster relationships between Chiefs of Defense in the region.

The conference is being held at the Radisson Fort George Hotel and Marina in Belize City.  Participating countries are: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.  Although not part of Central America, Colombia and the Dominican Republic are invited because of their relationship with these neighboring countries in combating transnational crime.