Speeches

U.S. Ambassador Robert J. Dieter’s remarks at the Handing-Over and Inauguration of the National Emergency Management Organization Warehouse Building in Belmopan - Thursday, March 16, 2006

Inauguration and ribbon cutting of the new NEMO warehouse (L-R) Chief of U.S. Military Liaison Office LTC David Treleaven; Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism Ambassador Lawrence Sylvester; Pastor James Bailey; Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism Mario Castellanos; U.S. Ambassador Robert J. Dieter; NEMO Acting Director LTC(R) George Lovell; Mayor of Belmopan Simeon Lopez

Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism Mario Castellanos,
Mayor of Belmopan Simeon Lopez,
National Emergency Management Organization Acting Coordinator  George Lovell,
Other Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good Afternoon. 

It is my great pleasure to represent the United States Government today at the dedication of this disaster relief warehouse.  This is a wonderful facility that is being turned over in a fully operational state -- complete with shelving, outfitted administrative spaces, a computer workstation installed with warehouse management software, and several pieces of material-handling equipment.  I understand that NEMO personnel also received training in warehouse management.  I should note that, in keeping with its function, this structure is built to withstand the 180 mile per hour winds associated with a Class V hurricane. 

I congratulate the National Emergency Management Organization and its director, LTC(R) George Lovell, on the selection of this site.  Some of you may not realize it, but this property is contiguous to the Hector Silva airfield.  In the future, I can envision a taxiway and ramp leading disaster relief supply aircraft directly from the airstrip to this facility.  I encourage NEMO and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to continue to build on this great start; further developing the site to improve security, establish a container yard and other capital improvements.

This warehouse was constructed by the Humanitarian Assistance Program (HAP)
executed by the US Southern Command headquartered in Miami.  The HAP program
has been very active in Belize, conducting annual medical exercises that bring medical care to thousands of rural Belizeans.  The program already renovated the disaster relief warehouse located in Ladyville and also delivers excess property items to Belize which greatly benefits schools and clinics.  Next year the program will sponsor a New Horizons military engineer exercise that will construct several rural schoolhouses in Belize. 

I also have some very good news for NEMO, and also for the Ministry of Human Development.  The US Southern Command has funded the construction of an identical structure to the one we are dedicating today.  The funding is available immediately and I'm told that this facility will be constructed in the vicinity of the town of Independence. The Southern Command has also allocated the funds to improve the Youth Hostel located in Rockville.  These funds will be used to refurbish a male and a female dormitory, and to construct a music room.

Let me close by saying that I look forward to continuing our close relationship with NEMO.  Let us hope that this facility is never called upon to fulfill its function.  However, we live in a disaster prone region and we must plan for the worst.  George Lovell knows this very well and we will help where we can. 

There are many people to thank today and there is not sufficient time.  But I want to single out the tremendous effort put forth by Ms. Natalie Fuller and LTC Dave Treleaven of the U.S. Military Liaison Office.  I also want to acknowledge Tilda Cruse, the Humanitarian Assistance Manager, SOUTHCOM.  I can assure you that without their diligence we would not be standing here today. 

I am proud of this facility, and proud of the U.S. Mission’s work with the National Emergency Management Organization.  It’s another example of good work through partnership.  Thank you all for attending.