Sustainable Tourism Program II – Utility Transport Vehicles (UTVs) Handing Over

The Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Relations (MTDR), through the Sustainable Tourism Programme II, handed over four (4) Utility Transport Vehicles (UTVs).  These are part of scheduled program activities under Component (3) Institutional Strengthening geared towards the provision of tourism transportation security vehicles and are the final set of transportation vehicles to be handed over under the STPII.  These UTVs will assist and improve on the destination management of the tourism sector.

The four UTVs were handed over by Honorable Anthony Mahler, Minister in the Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, on behalf of the Sustainable Tourism Program II (STPII).   The UTVs, valued at $33,666.67 BZD each, will serve to support the Tourism Police Unit (TPU) to further strengthen their capabilities in providing support security services in the destinations of San Pedro (2) and Caye Caulker (1), as well as Caracol (1) in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve. In addition to the UTVs, a Honda 20 HP boat engine was handed over to the Police Department for the San Pedro Formation as a donation from the Belize Tourism Board.

Honorable Kareem Musa, Minister in the Ministry of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries, received the four UTVs on behalf of the Belize Police Department and Tourism Police Unit.  On hand for the handover were MTDR CEO, Nicole Solano, Director of Tourism, Evan Tillett, Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, as well as ASP Aliyson Mclaughlin in charge of the TPU.

The TPU, a specialized unit with the Belize Police Department, is mandated with policing the tourism industry countrywide and tasked with maintaining the safety and security of the visitors to these sites and other tourism facilities