2007 Speeches
MEDRETE Closing Ceremony - April 26, 2007
Ladyville Community Center, Ladyville
3:00 PM
Over the past ten days, medical personnel from the Medical Readiness Training Exercise or MEDRETE provided free medical attention to over 3,500 Belizeans living in the Belize District and provided over 5,000 medical services to them. These services included general medical care, dental, eye care, and veterinarian as well as specific pediatric services for children. In addition, over 1,000 animals also received veterinary care. The MEDRETE team, in conjunction with the Belize Defence Force and the Ministry of Health conducted these clinics in Crooked Tree, Maskall, Burrell Boom, Hattieville, and Ladyville villages.
Allow me to note that previous MEDRETEs have treated patients in the south and north of Belize already this year. In a few months, the U.S. hospital ship U.S.S. COMFORT will come to Belize and conduct additional medical clinics in several locations, including at the Western Regional Hospital in Belmopan. So in the space of less than a year, U.S. medical assistance teams will have covered all the points of the compass in this country.
It is a pleasure to be here on this beautiful afternoon to say “thank you” to everyone who made this third MEDERETE of 2007 a success, and on behalf of Admiral James Stavridis and LTC Tammy McNamara of the U.S. Military Liaison Office, to acknowledge the service and good work the teams accomplished. Because of your dedication and service we celebrate a successful humanitarian effort.
There are many people who deserve recognition. I would first like to thank all the medical and veterinarian professionals who did all this work for the benefit of so many Belizeans. There are 32 medical personnel from the 932nd Medical Unit US Air Force and 3 persons from the 109th Medical and Vet Unit US Air Force. I would like to especially recognize their Officer in Charge, MAJ Gregory Koepke and the mission coordinator Staff Sergeant Carlos Cruz in coordinating this effort to the benefit of their team’s training and more importantly to the benefit of the health of our Belizean neighbors.
Thank you to Brigadier General Lloyd Gillett, Commander of the Belize Defence Force, and all the BDF members who participated in this MEDRETE. The Coast Guard Liaison Officer, in particular, PO1 Danny Garbutt was instrumental in escorting the team from the very beginning of this project that started in July 2006. There were 12 BDF volunteers that were very much a part of this MEDRETE exercise. Thank you all your help. I would also like to thank the local medical teams for their support and for overseeing the medical and dental care provided by the U.S. healthcare providers at each site.
As you can see, there were many people involved in this project. I believe it is a true reflection of the friendship we share. It is a friendship between Belizeans and Americans, military and civilian, private and public sector. It is my hope that MEDRETE projects will continue to be conducted in Belize and will continue to be embraced with such warmth and sincerity as we see here today.
Thank you.