2007 Speeches

Tradewinds 2007 Closing Ceremony at Price Barracks, Ladyville, Belize - May 16, 2007

(L-R) U.S. Ambassador Robert J. Dieter and Minister of Defence Cordel Hyde

This ceremony marks the conclusion of Tradewinds 2007, a cooperative effort between the Regional Security System Caribbean, U.S. Marine Corps Forces South, U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area, and under the sponsorship of the United States Southern Command.   

This year marked the 22nd year for Tradewinds.  The training included both maritime and land-based operations and focused on disaster management, humanitarian assistance, crowd and riot control, martial arts, civil affairs, and internal security.

This exercise has strengthened regional partnerships; it enhanced interoperability and cooperation between military, police, and civil organizations.  It fosters cooperation and builds trust among the participating nations, and by doing so, contributes to hemispheric stability.

The increased participation in Tradewinds 2007 underscores the importance that the Caribbean Community places on security and safety in the region.  More than 500 participants from the Caribbean region and the United Kingdom together with some 500 U.S. servicemen and women - an impressive total of 16 partner nations - trained together in an environment of friendship and trust.  In addition to taking away skills and exchanges of ideas that can be used to enhance the security of their respective countries, participants will also take away new friendships, new contacts and respect for each other. 

[Note:  The participating countries were Antigua-Barbuda, Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts/Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, the United Kingdom, and the United States.]

I would like to thank BG Lloyd Gillett, and RADM Cedric Borland, and both their staffs who hosted this exercise in conjunction with U.S. Southern Command.   The BDF stands “shoulder to shoulder” and deserves special recognition for hosting a terrific venue for the exercise.  Without their superb support, planning and cooperation, Tradewinds 2007 could not have gone so smoothly.

To the U.S. Southern Command and Marine Forces South, we thank you for your exceptional planning and execution as well.  It made this exercise an overwhelming success.

To all the participating nations and the men and women of the respective services who participated, you have earned recognition for your hard work,  for fostering good working relations and for contributing to better security cooperation within the region.

On behalf of myself and LTC Tammy McNamara of the U.S. Military Liaison Office here in Belize, thank you to everyone involved in the Tradewinds Exercise 2007.  It was a great achievement and I know everyone looks forward to partnering again at future Tradewinds Exercises.

Thank you again and I wish everyone a safe journey home.