2007 Speeches

COBEC (Consortium for Belize Educational Cooperation) Alumni Reception - February 9, 2007

Belize Biltmore Plaza Hotel

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.  It is a pleasure to address the COBEC educators and alumni present at tonight’s reception.

Thank you Co-Chairs Dr. Eve Aird and Mike Brennan for asking me to speak, and I want to congratulate you and COBEC on its many successes since the organization’s inception more than a decade ago.  The consortium has enabled hundreds of Belizeans to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees at COBEC member institutions in the United States, and the turnout here tonight is testament to the consortium’s successes.

In his remarks at the most recent Summit of the Americas, President George Bush observed: “We are committed to making education a centerpiece of our economic agenda – because learning and literacy are the foundations for development and democracy.”  Indeed, a strong democracy requires an educated and informed public.

The U.S. Embassy in Belize honors that commitment with support for various USG-funded educational programs.  Through USAID, we support the Caribbean Center of Excellence for Teacher Training which trains primary school teachers to improve their teaching of the fundamentals of reading.

Our commitment is evident also at the higher level through our support to Saint John’s Junior College’s center for Education/USA and Saint John’s testing center which prepares students and administers ACT, SAT, GRE and other examinations.

Another example is the State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program which offers three-week visits for foreign professionals to engage in peer-to-peer interaction in a wide-range of areas, including, journalism, education, civil government and economic development.

I understand that one of COBEC’s benefits is the opportunity for Belizean and American counterparts to exchange views on the various issues that affect our respective educational systems.  I am not an expert on Belize’s system, but I can offer a few observations from my personal experience in the U.S. to throw into the mix. 

First, one of the three greatest strengths of the United States is its educational institutions – the cornerstone of which is free, public education through high school. 

Second, studies show that two factors are always found in our better schools and that these factors are more important than fiscal resources: first, effective leadership by the principal and second, active parental involvement. 

Third, our system is largely unique because our school boards are locally controlled.  Members are elected and these elections are for the most part issue driven, not partisan driven.  

Finally, business and civic leaders tend to pay close attention to   educational development.   My state government and many prominent business leaders are keenly aware that major employers tend to locate in those states and communities that have the most educated and skilled work force.  For this reason, local business leaders tend to be strong supporters of higher education and civic leaders promote the strengths of our public schools in order to attract people to our community.

The State Department’s mission in this hemisphere is to build and sustain partnerships with peaceful, democratic, and well-governed societies that are responsive to the needs of their people.  Collaboration among the COBEC partners is an important contributor to that effort and the Embassy stands ready to assist COBEC in whatever way we can.

Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts with you at such an important occasion.  I trust you will enjoy the rest of your reunion and that those of you returning to the US will have a safe trip home.