Photo: Lieutenant Colonel Jermaine Burns

by Charles Gladden

BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Apr. 20, 2023

It has been reported that the Belize Defence Force (BDF) is now prohibiting its soldiers from entering the premises of the Eruption Nightclub, which is situated at Mile 11 ½ on the Philip Goldson Highway in Ladyville, Belize District.

An order issued on Tuesday of this week stated, “Force members are informed that with immediate effect Eruption Night Club is OUT OF BOUNDS to all ranks. Force Field and Force Orderly Officers are to conduct checks, especially on paydays. Anyone contravening this order will be dealt [with] accordingly. Offenders take note.”

When Amandala reached out to Lieutenant Colonel Jermaine Burns, Acting Chief of Staff of the BDF, he said, “In the BDF, as in any other military across the region, the hemisphere, and the world for that matter, we are subjected to military law. This may not resonate well with civilians who do not understand the obligation to service, and following of orders, once a soldier commits to military service. An order was passed by the Commander Belize Defence Force, and by military law… we all must follow, and we support him fully as our Commander, especially with this order!”

There are speculations that the prohibition was put into place in response to the recent death of Private Hector Cho, who was a victim of a hit and run last Thursday, April 13, between Miles 13 and 14 of on the same highway, and that he had been socializing at the club prior to the accident.

However, Lt. Col. Burns told Amandala that there had been discussions about the published order for some time and that the issuance of the order is not related to Private Cho’s death.

“It had been long discussed/contemplated. Whether the death of Private Cho provoked it to be is irrelevant. What is relevant is the safety and security of our human resources and by nature, the route to and from that establishment is dangerous in more ways than one, and so is the establishment,” he declared.