Speeches

Signing of Memorandum of Understanding by the Belize National Coast Guard Servcie for U.S. Embassy contribution of equipment - Wednesday, September 20, 2006 at 10:30 a.m.

(L-R) U.S. Ambassador Robert J. Dieter, Belize National Coast Guard Service Project Director General Cedric Borland, Minister of Home Affairs and Public Utilities Ralph Fonseca and U.S. Military Liaison Office Chief LTC David Treleaven

It is with great pleasure that the U.S. Embassy supports the efforts of the Belize National Coast Guard Service through this contribution of US$75,000 in equipment.   

This donation has been made possible by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and supports the BNCG in your daily operations and enhance your all weather capability as you carry out your mission to protect Belize’s territorial waters and coastal cayes and continue your fight against drug-trafficking and associated criminal activity. 

The U.S. Government and I appreciate the opportunity to work with the Government of Belize and the Coast Guard.  A fundamental component of the fight against drug trafficking is to prevent the encroachment of international criminal organizations upon the democracies of the region.

As the representative of the U.S. Government, one of the U.S. Embassy’s foremost missions is to deter the trafficking in narcotics that transit the sea, land and air routes of Belize.   

The people of the United States stand as willing partners with the people of Belize in pursuit of this common goal.  Together we can prevent the undermining of civil society and the human devastation that inevitably follows the proliferation of the narcotics trade.
The donation of this equipment is a further demonstration of our joint commitment to stop this evil scourge wherever it is encountered.  We know that the Belize National Coast Guard Service will use this equipment to continue the battle against drug trafficking and associated criminal activity.

The U.S. Embassy remains committed to assisting the Coast Guard, and we look forward to our continued efforts to improve the security and safety of citizens of both of our countries.

So again, thank you all.  The good work you do is of mutual benefit to the people of our two countries.