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Integrated Ballistic Identification System donated to Belize by the Canadian Government

The Government and People of Belize are receiving much-needed assistance from friendly governments and international agencies as we continue to fight against crime and violence in order to restore safety and security throughout our communities.

This coming Friday, October 12, 2012, inauguration ceremonies will be held for an Integrated Ballistic Identification System donated to Belize by the Canadian Government.

The donation constitutes a complete system (IBIS Brass Trax -3D) with full capability to collect, store, compare, analyze and prepare conclusive reports on ballistic evidence to assist law enforcement authorities in investigation, prosecution and conviction of persons involved in firearm related crimes.

The official handover will be done by Canadian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Diane Ablonczy, who is also the main guest speaker for the event and will be visiting Belize for two days, Friday and Saturday, October 12 and 13, 2012.

Also speaking at the ceremonies, and receiving the donation on behalf of Belize, will be Minister of National Security, Hon. John Saldivar, who returns to the country that same day from a week-long official trip abroad.

Presentations to ministers of both governments will be made by Chief Forensic Analyst, Genoveva Marin. The vote of thanks will be delivered by former Minister of Police and Public Safety, Mr. Douglas Singh.

The ceremony will be held at the National Forensic Science facility in Ladyville this Friday, October 12, 2012, starting at 11:00 am.

A special invitation is extended to all local media organizations.

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Canadians Donate High Tech Ballistics Equipment

Today the Canadian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Diane Ablonczy visited Belize to hand over an Integrated Ballistic Identification System - known as IBIS.

The handover was made at the National Forensic Science Facility in Ladyville and National Security Minister John Saldivar commented on the value of the IBIS system:..

Hon. John Saldivar, Minister of Police
"Canada donated this integrated ballistic identification system which is valued at over 2 million dollars which is said to be the most advance ballistic imaging solution in the world today. This will now significantly increase the ability of our law enforcement agencies to make ballistic matches across crime scenes and jurisdictions. We now have the most talked about imaging solution added to our inventory. It is important to underscore the fact that this IBIS system was delivered to us in less than 6 months from the time a commitment was made by the Canadian government. Those of us who know how difficult it is to walked through the bureaucracy and red tape of government will appreciate the short space of time that this donation has taken to arrive at our shores. You have demonstrated by your swift action that not only are you a true partner in the fight against national and transnational crime but that you are serious about playing your role."

Diane Ablonczy, Canadian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
"I was surprise too, six months? That's a speed of light for government and you are right about that but we brought it here and we are really looking forward to have partnership together."

"This equipment is coming from Canada is going to benefit all of us because we are so connected and because our wellbeing is supported by what we do together."

While the police department does have a police officer with specialized ballistics training, he now has to acquire specialized training in the IBIS Software.

Channel 7


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MINISTER ABLONCZY SUPPORTS CENTRAL AMERICAN SECURITY AND STABILITY DURING VISIT TO BELIZE

The following information was released by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (Canada):

The Honourable Diane Ablonczy, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas and Consular Affairs), completed her official visit to Central America today following a series of key events that reinforced Canadian efforts to improve security and stability throughout the region.

Today, Minister Ablonczy toured the Guatemala-Belize Adjacency Zone, the buffer region established to help reconcile the two countries long-standing territorial dispute. The Minister was accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer of Belizes Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Alexis Rosado, Guatemalas Vice-Minister of External Relations, Carlos Ral Morales, and the OAS Secretary Generals Special Representative for Belize and Guatemala, Ambassador Ral Lago.

Our government is committed to working alongside our neighbours throughout the region to improve safety and security for the people who call the Americas home, said Minister Ablonczy. Canada is pleased that Guatemala and Belize are working closely together to resolve the issue of the Adjacency Zone between their two countries. We are confident that a resolution will improve the stability and security of both nations and are pleased to be helping to achieve a peaceful result.

The work of the Organization of American States (OAS) Office in the Adjacency Zone is crucial as it contributes to reducing violence and insecurity, while improving prospects and conditions for effective conflict resolution.

Canada recently announced $1 million in additional support for the Organization of American States (OAS) Office in the Adjacency Zone to help it in its work to bring Guatemala andBelize toward a permanent solution. This adds to the $445,000 Canada has contributed to the Office since 2009.

On Friday, Minister Ablonczy was joined by Belizes Minister of National Security, John Saldivar, to announce Canadas delivery of state-of-the-art ballistics identification equipment to the Belizean National Forensics Laboratory. The Canadian-made Integrated Ballistics Identification System (IBIS), valued at approximately $720,000, will help local investigators to link firearms to crimes and suspects. The equipment will also allow Belize to contribute to a regional ballistics information network, which could be drawn on by other national and regional law enforcement agencies such as INTERPOL.

Canadas donation of the equipment is being further bolstered through support to train Belize National Forensics Laboratory staff at the Biology Unit of Ontarios Centre of Forensic Sciences in the area of DNA testing and analysis.

Canadas support will increase the capacity of Belizean authorities to combat transnational organized crime and to contribute to greater overall security for the Belizean people, said Minister Ablonczy. These projects are part of our consistent, ongoing commitment to strengthen security and institutions in the Americas.

In Belize, Minister Ablonczy also visited the community at Spanish Lookout, which is home to an estimated 2,500 Canadian Mennonites. The community has ties to Mennonite communities in both Manitoba and Nova Scotia.

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I wonder what the annual operational cost of this system and database is.

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REMARKS BY MINISTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY, HON. JOHN SALDIVAR AT HANDING OVER CEREMONIES FOR INTEGRATED BALLISTIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM (IBIS) DONATED BY CANADIAN GOVERNMENT - 12 OCTOBER, 2012

Hon. Diane Ablonczy, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs Canada; Mr. Hugues Rousseau, Canadian High Commissioner and other members of the Canadian Delegation; Carlos Perodomo, Cabinet Secretary; Colonel George Lovell, CEO Ministry of National Security and other members of the Ministry of National Security, Alexis Rosado, CEO in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other members of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Patrick Andrews, Honorary Canadian Consul; We are also blessed with the presence of Mr. Douglas Singh, previous Minister with the responsibility for the Ministry of Police and Public Safety; Mrs. Cheryl - Lynn Vidal, Director of Public Prosecution; Ms. Ann - Marie Smith, Chief Magistrate; Mr. David Henderson, Commissioner of Police and other members of the Police Department; Brigadier General Dario Tapia, Commander BDF and other members of the BDF; Captain John Borland, Commandant Belize Coast Guard; Ms. Genoveva Marin and members of the National Forensic Science Service; Members of the Various media houses represented here today; other distinguished guests; Ladies and Gentlemen; a pleasant good morning to one and all.

I feel extremely privileged to have been afforded this opportunity of addressing this most captive audience - and one capable of influencing positive change in our fight against crime and violence here in Belize; I am encouraged by your presence here this morning; this certainly gives me the assurance that as stakeholders we are all committed to create a safe and secure environment where our citizens and visitors can live in peace with itself.

I wish to welcome the Hon. Minister and her team to Belize. My understanding is that the programme of events included a fly over in a helicopter along the Belize/Guatemala border accompanied by the Vice Minister of Guatemala and CEO in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. An official visit to the border (adjacency zone) is also scheduled in the programme of events. I also note that Minister Ablonczy is the head of the Consular programme for the Canadian Government and as such she will be visiting the Mennonite Community in Spanish Lookout. I am hopeful that your stay in Belize will help to further the excellent bilateral relation that both our Governments' shared since the establishment of diplomatic relations in November, 1981.

It is pleasing to note that the foundation is well on its way to be set for integrated planning in citizen security issues. Following the Donor Coordination Group meeting on Citizen Security with key CEO of the Government, on the 23rd August, 2012; where Belize's National Strategic Plans were discussed, a commitment was made for the development of a road map which will chart the path for a more synchronized approach to the wider donor contribution effort. We have also been actively engaging our friendly

Governments; dialogue with the British, Canadians, Mexicans and the US Governments and others continue to result in major capacity building efforts. In April 2012, through the Anti- Crime Capacity Building Programme, Canada donated this Integrated Ballistic Identification System, TRAX - 3D, which is valued over $2 million; which is said to be the most advanced ballistic imaging solution in the world today.

This will now significantly increase the ability of our law enforcement agencies to make ballistic matches across crime scenes and jurisdictions. We are hoping that in a very short time this equipment will assist in our investigating effort of the numerous crimes involving guns and the arrest of gun crime offenders. Hon. Minister of State, distinguished guest, It is important to underscore the fact that this IBIS system was delivered to us in less than six months from the time a commitment was made by the Canadian Government. Those of us who know how difficult it is to navigate through the red tape and bureaucracy for donor countries to provide this type of assistance, in such a short time frame, will understand how unprecedented this is. The Government of Belize and in particular the Ministry of National Security is extremely thankful to the Government of Canada for this most needed and expeditious contribution. You demonstrated that not only you are a true partner in the fight against National and transnational crime but you are serious about playing your part.

Belize is partnering with a similar project being executed in Barbados. Barbados has agreed to share a server with Belize and Belize has agreed to meet the cost of maintenance of the server jointly with Barbados. Canada has also agreed to sponsor training for one individual at the Forensic lab in the area of Serology, which is the scientific study of blood serum and other body fluids. The training will be conducted in Canada for three months at a cost $18,000 Canadian Dollars.

Moving forward, a recruit squad for the Police Department and one for the BDF will be added to their strength. The BDF and the BNCG will be strengthened to provide better security coverage along our borders and at sea. The K9 Unit is being fully utilized to support the crime fighting effort. The CIMS will be rolled out countrywide. Resource packages, similar to those given to Eastern Division will be extended to the Districts, especially Cayo and Stann Creek, in a proportionate manner. Mobile interdiction teams will be stood up. Legislation to limit the bail of repeat offenders and implement a sex offenders' registry and monitoring system along with efforts to increase the rate of convictions of criminals will be pursued. Efforts will be made to strengthen the Police Prosecution branch and institute greater coordination between the Police and the Office of the Director of the Public Prosecution. We will ensure more effectiveness in the investigation and preparation of cases for prosecution and ensure, together with the Magistracy and Judiciary, the proper enforcement of the laws governing denial of bail in cases of sexual and other serious offences; also Procedure to deal disciplinary with corrupt officers in an expeditious manner will be pursued.

Our Intelligence Architecture will be revamped into a Fusion Center that will host a new Counter Intelligence Unit, and the proposed National Crime and Violence Trends Observatory (which would endeavor to conduct more in-depth analysis and primary research projects on crime and violence trends across the country). The Fusion Center would also serve as the Government of Belize's International Liaison with international and regional partners such as INTERPOL, the Regional Intelligence Fusion Centre (RIFC) in Trinidad & Tobago, Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras. Finally, the Fusion Center will facilitate the I-Trace software and conduct tracing services for all weapons and ammunition recovered by any and all national security agencies. There is a whole lot we have planned on doing, but, In times of shrinking economies and limited resources it is a challenge for our Government to provide needed resources in the quantity and in all the areas we would like to. Therefore we must be strategic and real in our approach in addressing our many issues. We ask for patience as we seek to achieve these planned objects.

We now have the most advance ballistic imaging solution added to our inventory; I want to ask the staff of the Forensic Service to please look after it well so that it will service us for a long time to come. We are depending on you to do so. In ending, I wish to thank the Government of Canada for their kind contribution. Also I wish to take this opportunity to join the Prime Minister of Belize, the Hon. Dean Barrow, in offering my congratulations and thanks to the thousands of Belizeans from the Cayo District and across the country who participated in the San Ignacio/Santa Elena peaceful protest against crime on Thursday. Please be assured that the war on crime will not slacken but be heightened by increased human and material resource allocation. I thank you for the role you have played in this effort and for your attention.


Forensic Lab now has Ballistic Identification Capacity


Official handing over of IBIS

On Friday, October 12th, Hon. Diane Ablonczy, CanadianForensic Lab now has Ballistic Identification Capacity. Minister of State of Foreign Affairs handed over a state of the art Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBIS) to Hon. John Saldivar, Minister of National Security. The donation was made in April 2012 and it took 6 months for the delivery to be made.

Worth over two million dollars, the system is capable of taking two and three dimensional images of expended bullet shells that are retrieved from crime scenes. These are then stored in a database and can be quickly and precisely compared to others, which have been previously collected and stored. Cross referencing of this type of forensic information gives law enforcement personnel better capacity of linking gun crimes. Aside from the IBIS, the Canadian Government will also provide training in the use of the equipment. They have also committed to the training of one officer in the area of Serology which is the study of blood serum.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony, Minister John Saldivar explained that Government has taken on the task of developing "a road map which will chart the path for a more synchronized approach to the wider donor contribution effort." Hon. Saldivar also pointed out that Government is also engaging friendly nations to improve the crime fighting capabilities of the country. Already, talks have been engaged with the British, Canadian, Mexican and U.S. Governments.

On the local front of crime fighting, Minister Saldivar stated that recruits will soon be added to the Police, BDF, and the Coast Guard to improve security coverage. Additional resources will also be extended to other districts across the country, in particular Cayo and Stann Creek. Even now legislation is being looked at to limit the bail of repeat offenders and the implementation of a sex offenders' registry and monitoring system. Along with these efforts, there will also be improved coordination between the police and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Other measures are also being looked at to deal with corrupt police officers in an expeditious manner.

Additionally, Hon. Saldivar said that "Our intelligence architecture will be revamped into a fusion center that will host a new Counter Intelligence Unit, and the proposed National Crime and Violence Trends Observatory (which would endeavor to conduct more in-depth analysis and primary research projects on crime and violence trends across the country)." This center, he added, will be the liaison point for regional and international law enforcement partners and will be augmented by software to conduct tracing services for all weapons and ammunition recovered by any and all national security agencies.

For her part, the Canadian Minister of State of Foreign Affairs noted that the delivery of the equipment in six months "is the speed of light" for Governments. She added that because we are all connected, Canada too will benefit when the equipment is put to use. She said that modern states need tools in order to terrorize criminals and that is what is being done with the IBIS. With the new tool, she said that the state will better be able to get judgments against criminals to make sure that the country is safe.

The Guardian


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Ballistics Training For Belizean Technicians

2 months ago, 7News told you about the major Canadian donation of the Integrated Ballistic Identification Systems - known as IBIS - which is the very latest in Ballistics technology.

But what good is an upgrade in technology if there is no one who knows how to use the machine?

Well, 2 Belizeans have just returned from Mexico after receiving specialized training in forensic ballistics, which occurred from November 22 to 26.

They took part in an intensive 5-day crash-course in various aspects of ballistics imaging and a working knowledge of the IBIS system.

With this training, these 2 Belizeans will be able to enhance prosecution resources by helping to provide ballistics evidence in firearm related crimes.

Talks are already ongoing about the continuation of these courses, and an exchange of knowledge and techniques in ballistics.

Channel 7


Belize Gets Help from Mexico on Forensic Ballistics Analysis

A pair of Belizeans have completed a two-day training course in Mexico in forensic ballistics analysis.

The five-day crash course, which was conducted in Mexico City, included the use of the Integrated Ballistics Imaging System.

Thanks to the training, the analysts will be able to operate the IBIS TRAX 3D System that was recently donated to Belize by the government of Canada.

The system is currently being set up in the National Forensic Science Service in Ladyville.

The two sides could explore further training and followup courses, along with additional technical exchanges between Belize and Mexico, according to a government release.



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