2007 Speeches
MEDRETE Closing Ceremony - February 7, 2007
Santa Teresa RC School, Toledo District
Good afternoon everyone. It is a pleasure to be herewith you to thank you all for the good work you are doing and to have the opportunity make a few brief remarks at the closing the first Medical Readiness Training Exercise or MEDRETE of 2007.
Over the past ten days, medical personnel from the MEDRETE team, in conjunction with the Belize Defence Force and the Ministry of Health visited San Antonio, Santa Ana, and Santa Teresa Villages and provided free medical attention to over 3,500 Belizeans living in the Toledo District and provided over 6,300 medical services to them. These medical services included general medical care, dental, and eye care as well as specific medical attention for children. In addition, over 6,300 animals received veterinary care provided by the team.
I am here on this beautiful afternoon to say on my own account and on behalf of Admiral James Stavridis, Commander of SOUTHCOM, and LTC Tammy McNamara of the U.S. Military Liaison Office here in Belize, ‘thank you’ to everyone involved in the first MEDRETE of 2007. It was a great success and another example of good work done through partnership by the men and women of United States Military, the Belize Defence Force and the public and private sectors.
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
31 medical personnel from the 396th Combat Support Hospital;
3 persons from the 719th Vet Detachment/5502nd,
2 persons from the 470th Military Intelligence Unit,
2 people from the 252nd Signal Unit, and
2 people from US Army South.
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 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 teams from the very beginning of this project when the first advance team visited 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 medic LCPL Lynn Rodriguez from the BDF; Dr. Butathi Ragu, Dr. Salomon Enriquez, Dr. Luz Legra Williams, and Dr. Marcia Leiva Humfrey from the Punta Gorda Hospital; and Nurse Susana Solam from San Antonio.
This good work could not be possible without your support and assistance overseeing the medical and dental care provided by the U.S. healthcare providers at each site.
Last but not least, Mr. Andrew Maheia from the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) and Ministry of Agriculture, who provided veterinarian services to assist the MEDRETE vet team. This combined team operated on their own in examining and giving vaccinations to livestock and in providing vector and disease control to over 6,300 animals. For all your work, thank you very much.
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 with great pleasure to announce that there will be one more MEDRETE in the Belize District in April 2007 and a Dental Readiness Training Exercise (DENTRETE) that will occur in Orange Walk Town in March 2007.
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 and have a safe trip home.