U.S. military inaugurates “New Horizons”
You’d think that a military machine now in its final countdown to war wouldn’t have the time or interest to engage in a minor public relations exercise half a world away from the front…but somehow it does. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods found out this morning that not all U.S. military personnel will be marching on Baghdad.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Unlike their colleagues who are preparing for war in the Middle East, the men and women of the U.S. Army Reserve’s 416th Engineer Command have been sent to peaceful Belize to work on a number of humanitarian projects. That work is part of the training exercise New Horizons that is expected to last for the next two months. Dubbed Task Force Jaguar, both the U.S. reservists and members of the Belize Defence Force will be labouring primarily in the Stann Creek District to construct school buildings and a community centre, as well as holding mobile medical clinics.
Capt. James Requeña, B.D.F. Liaison Officer
“These engineers are using this opportunity to practice their engineering skills, which we at times don’t have the opportunity to do.”
Jacqueline Woods
“How many B.D.F. soldiers are working along with the U.S. soldiers?”
Capt. James Requeña
“At present we have eighteen B.D.F. engineers, working on the project site, and we also have some security personnel, which comes from the Belize Defence Force volunteer element.”
United States Ambassador to Belize, Russell Freeman, says although his country is faced with the possibility of a war with Iraq, his government remains committed to the humanitarian exercise in Belize.
Russell Freeman, United States Ambassador to Belize
“Despite the September eleventh 2001 terrorists attacks and the subsequent military action in Afghanistan and the build up in the Middle East, which has left resources for other operations scarce we are still here today, here to celebrate the strength of our combined efforts in the importance that we have all attached to New Horizons.”
“This is not the first such exercise conducted in Belize and we are confident that it will not be the last. Whatever the future may hold, I promise you that the American Embassy in Belize will work to ensure that similar engineering and medical exercises will continue to benefit the people of Belize.”
One institution that will benefit from the exercise is Delille Academy, one of only two high schools in Dangriga. The school, founded and managed by the Sisters of the Holy Family, caters to three hundred students. To accommodate additional enrolment, the soldiers erected several tents on the old plane field and that is where classes are taking place until the young men and women will be able to move into their new school building.
Sister Jean Martinez, Head of Delille Academy
“The building that we are presently occupying back there could only take seven classes and we needed ten. Then for development, we need arts and craft room, teacher’s lounge and then we need extra classrooms.”
Although New Horizons 2003 was officially opened today in ceremonies held in the town, construction on the new buildings has already started. During his address to the gathering, Prime Minister and Minister of Education Said Musa praised the work and spoke about the benefits of the other projects to the area.
Prime Minister Said Musa, Min. of Education
“The school caters to the needs of the…namely of the at risk students of Dangriga centring around a curriculum that does the basics, literacy, math and so on, but also sewing, home economics and other vocational subjects. The expansion of the school will increase the capacity intake of students from Dangriga as well as from the rural areas in the Stann Creek District and the community centre will no doubt serve as a site for community enhancement and cultural development of our people. The medical readiness exercise, covering basic medical care conducted in the villages, will no doubt be fully appreciated by those who do not have easy and ready access to affordable quality medical care.”
As a symbolic gesture to the working relationship that will be shared between the concerned parties, the dignitaries had a little work of their own to do.
(Dignitaries tying steel)
Musa says New Horizons will strengthen bilateral relations between the United States and Belize.
Prime Minister Said Musa
“A relationship built on mutual respect, people to people interaction, tourism, trade, investment and strong democratic values that uphold the rule of law, and protection of fundamental rights and freedom.”
Brig. Gen. Robert Williamson, Dep. Cmdr., 416th Engineer Command
“We thank you for this opportunity to spend time with you, to share our respective cultures, and to participate in this unique and rare opportunity for our soldiers, Airmen and Marines to learn from your country as we pass on some of what we have to provide to this country.”
Sylvia Flores, Minister of Defence
“We certainly appreciate their concern for us, and we certainly are grateful for their presence here in our community. It is a worthwhile effort, there is no better way to develop a people than to certainly educate its citizens and this is a worthwhile effort that we hope will produce results in the next few years.”
For newly appointed Minister of Defence Sylvia Flores, it was her first public appearance as a member of Cabinet. She is scheduled to tour B.D.F. camps across the country. Jacqueline Woods for News 5.
Task Force Jaguar consists of a mixed group of U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Units. The soldiers rotate back to the United States every two weeks.
