Clearer Constitutional Provisions for BDF Deployment needed: Political Scientist

There is need for clearer guidelines governing how members of the Belize Defence Force (BDF) are deployed at home and abroad, Political Scientist Dr. Dylan Vernon argues in a recent article.

Deployment of Troops Abroad

Recent discussions around sending Belizean troops to Haiti as part of a Kenyan-led international military contingent have brought this issue to the forefront. Vernon highlights the constitutional silence on procedures for deploying the BDF overseas, arguing that such significant decisions should not be left solely to the discretion of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Vernon suggests that the decision to send troops abroad should involve broader legislative oversight. “It makes sense, at the very least, for the Senate to have the power to approve the deployment of any of Belize’s armed forces to another country,” he recommends, noting that the current constitution only grants the Senate authority to approve the establishment of foreign military bases in Belize.

An even better approach, he proposes, would be to require a two-thirds vote from a revised National Assembly, preferably after meaningful public debate, to authorize such deployments.

The Need for Structured Decision-Making

Vernon emphasizes the importance of structured decision-making processes for military deployments, especially given the potential political, economic, and human consequences. “The sending of Belizean armed forces to other states are major, and often sensitive, national decisions with major potential political, economic and human consequences – including lives and limbs of Belizeans. It requires more than just an Executive decision,” he asserts.

Domestic Use of the BDF

While the primary focus is on overseas deployments, Vernon also addresses the use of the BDF within Belize. He argues for constitutional clarity on the domestic deployment of armed forces, particularly in non-emergency situations. Currently, the constitution provides for the use of the BDF during states of emergency, but Vernon sees a need for guidelines outside such periods.

“There should be clear constitutional provisions that outline how and when the BDF can be deployed within Belize,” Vernon suggests. This would help prevent potential misuse of military power and ensure that domestic deployments are justified, transparent, and subject to appropriate checks and balances