President Bush Congratulates Belize's New Prime Minister (February 13, 2008)

President George W. Bush

President George W. Bush telephoned Prime Minister Dean O. Barrow February 13 to congratulate him on his election.  The two leaders reaffirmed the strong relationship between the United States of America and Belize.

Belize held its General Elections on February 7, 2008.

U.S. Ambassador Attends Handing Over Ceremony for Equipment and Cessna Engine to the Belize Defence Force (January 29, 2008)

(L-R) U.S. Ambassador Robert J. Dieter and Belize Defence Force Commander Brigadier General Lloyd Gillett shake hands at the Handing Over Ceremony.

U.S. Ambassador Robert J. Dieter handed over equipment to the Belize Defence Force (BDF) under the Department of State’s Global Peacekeeping Operations Initiative (GPOI).  Items include large generators, rain ponchos, field packs with frames, jungle hammocks and 5 gallon water jugs.  Also handed over was a Cessna aircraft engine purchased through the Foreign Military Financing program.  The cost of the equipment and engine is valued at about US $534,000.

Ambassador Dieter said, "GPOI is a presidential initiative to increase the capacity of countries to deploy to international peace support operations.  It is a five-year program that began in 2005, and is addressing key gaps in global peacekeeping capacity by:  1) training 75,000 peace support troops worldwide; 2) increasing the number of constabulary police units deployable to international operations; and 3) facilitating deployment of PSO units by helping to provide equipment, transportation, and sustainment in the field".  (more)

U.S. Ambassador Hands Over Excess Property for Belmopan National Emergency Management Organization Warehouse (January 23, 2008)

(L-R) NEMO Director LTC(R) George Lovell and U.S. Ambassador Robert J. Dieter review some of the donated items.

Today in Belmopan, U.S. Ambassador Robert J. Dieter attended a Handing Over Ceremony of supplies donated to the National Emergency Management Organization.  Items donated include medical supplies, tents, cots, sleeping mats, sleeping bags, and flood lights.  The donation, with a total value of just over US $162,000, was funded by the Humanitarian Assistance Program (HAP) and executed by the US Southern Command headquartered in Miami.  

"As you know, the HAP program has been very active in Belize, conducting annual medical exercises that bring medical care to thousands of rural Belizeans. This program has made possible the renovation of the disaster relief warehouse located in Ladyville, built the Belmopan and Big Creek NEMO warehouses, and also delivered excess property items to Belize which have greatly benefited schools, medical clinics and the Youth Hostel in Rockville.  I am proud of this donation, and proud of the U.S. Mission’s work with the National Emergency Management Organization.  It is another example of good work through partnership," said Ambassador Dieter.  (more)

Sexual Assault Crimes Training Sponsored by U.S. Embassy Belmopan (January 15 and 16, 2008)

(L-R) University of Belize Provost Dr. Marco Olsen, Minnesota Police Sergeant Paul Schnell, District Attorney Susan Gaertner and U.S. Ambassador Robert J. Dieter.

Saint Paul District Attorney Susan Gaertner and Minnesota Police Department Sergeant Paul Schnell visited Belize to conduct training on Sexual Assault Crimes.

Training sessions and presentations were made at the Belize Police Department Headquarters in Belmopan, the University of Belize in Belmopan and at the Radisson Fort George Hotel and Marina in Belize City.  Police officers and trainers, Ministry of Human Development personnel, judges, magistrates, prosecutors, attorneys and students attended the sessions.

The visit was sponsored by the U.S. Embassy through the Speaker Program of the U.S. Department of State.  U.S. Ambassador Robert J. Dieter said, "Our hope is that training sessions and workshops such as this one will encourage and stimulate a free-flow exchange of ideas and can perhaps create lasting partnerships that will continue into in the future.  Our mutual goals are to better ensure public safety, to provide compassionate support to victims, and to support the fair and effective administration of justice.  This training, combined with your hard work and dedication, is evidence of our shared commitment to combat sexual assault crimes and serve the ends of justice".  (more)