Speeches

Closing Ceremony of MEDRETE - May 17, 2006
San Pablo RC School, Orange Walk District

Ambassador Dieter

Good afternoon,

Over the past ten days, medical personnel from the Medical Readiness Training Exercise or MEDRETE provided free medical attention to over 5,000 Belizeans living in the Orange Walk District.  These services included general medical, dental, and eye care, as well as specialized pediatric services for children.  In addition, over 3,000 animals received veterinary care from a special MEDRETE vet team.  The MEDRETE team, in conjunction with the Belize Defence Force and the Ministry of Health, conducted these clinics in August Pine Ridge, Guinea Grass and San Pablo Villages.

It is a pleasure to be here on this beautiful afternoon to say ‘thank you’ to everyone involved in the first MEDRETE of 2006, and, on behalf of the Commander, US Southern Command, General Bantz Craddock, and the Commander, US Army South, Brigadier General Ken Keen to acknowledge the service and good work the team accomplished.  Because of your dedication and teamwork, the exercise was a great success. General Prosek, the soldiers and airmen of the Washington DC National Guard performed superbly and we are proud and grateful for what they’ve accomplished!

There are many people who deserve special recognition.  I would first like to thank all the medical and veterinary professionals who worked so hard for the benefit of so many Belizeans.  There are 28 medical personnel from the DC Army National Guard and the 422nd Medical Detachment; 1 person from the Air Force Medical Detachment; 1 from the US Army South Civil Affairs Section; 2 from the 470th Military Intelligence Unit, 2 from the 56th Signal Unit; and 2 from US Army South. 

I would like to recognize in particular their Officer in Charge, COL Harry Marshall and the mission coordinator, Sergeant First Class Sharri Forrest, for coordinating this effort which provides an opportunity for medical training, but most importantly, delivers health services to benefit 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, PO1 Danny Garbutt, in particular, was instrumental in escorting the team from the very beginning of this project back in December 2005.  There were as well 10 BDF volunteers who were very much a part of this MEDRETE exercise.  Thank you all for your contribution and assistance.

I would also like to thank Dr. Elfryn Reyes from the BDF, Dr. Carl Meggs, Dentist and manager of the Orange Walk Regional Hospital, and his assistant Ms. Flor Velasquez for their support and for overseeing the medical and dental care provided at each site.   Thanks also to Ms. Nelly Trench from the National Sports Council for letting us use the Sporting Complex in Orange Walk as the base camp for this deployment; an indispensable asset to this mission.

My sincere thanks goes to Dr. Joe Myers from the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) and Mr. Vincent Tuyub, Ministry of Agriculture, who provided veterinary services to assist the MEDRETE vet team.  This combined team examined and vaccinated livestock and provided vector and disease control.  For all your hard work, thank you very much. Last but not least I want to thank Ms. Natalie Fuller of the US Military Liaison Office for conducting all of the necessary inter-agency coordination and support for this mission.  This would not have come together without you.

As you can see, there were many people involved in this project.  Their cooperative effort is a reflection of the friendship our two nations share.  It is a friendship between Belizeans and Americans - military and civilian, private sector and government. 

It is my hope that MEDRETE projects will continue to be conducted in Belize and will continue to be embraced with the sincere warmth and appreciation evident here today. 

Thank you.