2007 SPEECHES
Remarks by Ambassador Robert J. Dieter at Dedication of Hattieville Prison School - October 11, 2007
It is my great pleasure to represent the United States Government at today’s dedication of this school building valued at nearly $ 300,000 US Dollars.
The USG donation was made possible through the Humanitarian Assistance Program sponsored by the US Southern Command headquartered in Miami, Florida.
The Humanitarian Assistance Program or “HAP program” has been very active in Belize recently. In addition to building this school, HAP has been conducting annual medical exercises that bring medical care to thousands of rural Belizeans. In addition, the HAP program renovated the disaster relief warehouse located in Ladyville, built the NEMO warehouse in Belmopan which was dedicated in 2006 and constructed a disaster relief warehouse in Big Creek that was dedicated last April. The HAP program recently renovated two dormitories at the Youth Hostel in Gracie Rock. Through this program, the USG delivers property items such as furniture and medical equipment, which greatly benefits Belize’s schools and clinics.
The donation of this building is to further the good work being done by the Kolbe Foundation. The vision of the Kolbe Foundation is three-fold: to maintain a secure, humane facility, geared toward meaningful rehabilitation. Kolbe and its chairman, John Woods, are to be commended on the tremendous progress that has transformed the prison from simply being a human warehouse.
The work at the prison is aimed directly at instilling in the inmates a sense of normalcy and a routine that is similar to that in the outside world. The inmates must work, showing up on time of course. And they get paid a salary, although it is small. Through this they learn the value of a proper work ethic and hopefully pick up a skill that will lead to lawful employment after their release. Though security is a foremost concern, the officers try to interact with the inmates like teachers and counselors.
I congratulate the Kolbe Foundation and Mr. John Woods on this facility. I encourage all the inmates who are open to changing their patterns of thinking and behavior to take the opportunity before them by this school facility and to benefit from it.
There is not sufficient time to recognize everyone involved in making this school building a reality. But I want to single out the tremendous effort by Ms. Natalie Fuller and LTC Tammy McNamara of the U.S. Military Liaison Office. I want to also acknowledge the contributions of Cindy Gregg the former consular officer at the Embassy and LTC David Treleaven who conceived of the project and worked with Kolbe to make it happen. I can assure you that without their vision, the building would not be standing here today. I would also like to acknowledge Mr. Rene Villanueva and LOVE FM radio for their support to the prison and for hosting the “Behind These Walls” weekly radio program.
I am proud of this facility, and proud of the U.S. Mission’s work with the Kolbe Foundation. It is another example of good work through partnership. Thank you all for attending.