2008 Speeches
Handing-Over Ceremony for GPOI Equipment and Counter Drug Purchased Equipment to the Belize Defence Force and Belize Naitonal Coast Guard (December 16, 2008)
Price Barracks, Ladyville
Belize
Good Morning.
It is my great pleasure to represent the government and the people of the United States at today’s handing-over ceremony of equipment donated to the Belize Defence Force and the Belize National Coast Guard.
This equipment is being donated through the Global Peacekeeping Initiative and U.S. Department of Defense Counter-Drug Assistance Program. The total value of the donations is US $ 608,000 – just over BZ $ 1.2 million. The BDF is receiving an array of equipment under the Global Peacekeeping Operations Initiative valued at over US$300,000 to outfit the newly established light engineering company for humanitarian assistance missions in the Caribbean and Central America.
The Global Peacekeeping Operations Initiative is an ongoing Presidential initiative intended 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. In 2007, the GPOI program expanded to include Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Belize. In the past two years, Belize has received over US$2 million through this initiative.
In addition, the BDF and the Coast Guard are receiving equipment through the U.S. Department of Defense Counter-Drug Assistance Program valued at over US$308,000. This includes two 150-hp outboard engines, six 250-hp outboard engines, three single- and double-axle trailers, and three Ford 450 pick-up trucks.
The Department of Defense Counter Drug Assistance program is designed to support counter-drug programs throughout the world. Assistance is approved annually in conjunction with the local country’s current counter-drug plan. With today’s donation, Belize receives over US$300,000 and is forecasted to receive in excess of US$900,000 in 2009.
As you know, in addition to this donation of equipment, earlier this year the US MLO through the US SOUTHERN Command and with the assistance of the US Embassy conducted a MEDRETE exercise in Burrell Boom and Crooked Tree to assist individuals in the Belize River Valley affected by Tropical Depression 16. Almost 700 patients were seen in by this medical team. In addition to medical assistance, the US SOUTHERN Command donated 600 cases of water, toiletry supplies, backpacks with school supplies, and boots to those communities. I am pleased to announce that we have another MEDRETE scheduled this coming Spring. It will be held from April 25 to May 9 in the Corozal district and will serve people from the villages of San Narciso, Libertad, Cristo Rey, and San Joaquin.
The equipment donated today should greatly enhance Belize’s security forces in carrying out their mission - to confront transnational threats as well as assist in security operations to protect Belize’s territorial and littoral integrity.
Our countries face the scourge of drug dealers and traffickers who spread a culture of death and addiction among our young people, and undermine social society by creating a breeding ground for crime and violence. But equipment can only do so much. The Coast Guard can only do so much.
This equipment will be of no significance in that fight unless law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, clergymen and women, politicians and, most importantly, the Belizean community send a message to put the violent drug trafficking organizations that profit from the misery of addiction out of business. The last thing any community needs is more drugs and drug dealers on its streets and in its neighborhoods.
I am proud of this donation, and I am proud of the U.S. Mission’s work with the Belize Defence Force and the Belize National Coast Guard. This is another example of good work through partnership, and I look forward to continuing our close relationship with the Belize Defence Force and the Belize National Coast Guard as they continue their work on behalf of the people of Belize.
Thank you all for attending.