New Horizons, U.S. Military construct buildings for schools

Construction of a spanking new classroom is getting off the ground; it is a welcome expansion to the Ladyville Technical High School. The project is being implemented by New Horizons as part of US Southern Command’s initiative in partnership with the government.  Aside from educational purposes, the facility will be used for medical and dental services. New Horizon will also be providing free medical care to the community. News Five’s Jose Sanchez reports.

Jose Sanchez, Reporting

Ladyville Technical High School is the setting for an initiative that will bring together the U.S. Southern Command, the US Embassy, the Ministry of Education and some very happy students. The facility and the services, according to Patrick Faber, will improve on investments made by the Education Ministry.

Patrick Faber

Patrick Faber, Minister of Education

“Allotted for education in that budget, in the recurrent figures, well the Ministry of Education Youth and Sports was two hundred and seven million Belize dollars; it is by far the largest allocation made to any single ministry—apart from the Ministry of Finance who deals with the debt repayment. And it is a signal that our nation invests very heavily in education because it believes that it is the foundation on which this country can push itself forward. But in that two hundred and seven million dollars of which about two hundred and four million is spend on education, the bulk of that goes into salaries of course and some services and very little goes into infrastructure. And you ask any of our three hundred, four hundred schools in this country; one of their primary needs every year that is a big part of what is needed—infrastructural works.”

U.S. Ambassador to Belize Vinai Thummalapally was impressed by Ladyville Technical making their investment at the institution very appropriate.

Vinai Thummalapally

Vinai Thummalapally, U.S. Ambassador to Belize

“It’s my great pleasure to represent the U.S. Government today; in particular, the U.S. Southern Command and the U.S. Military Liaison Office located both here and in Belmopan at the Embassy at this opening ceremony of New Horizons Exercise. This exercise allows us to work with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and Belize Defense Force on mutually beneficial programs of new horizons while we continue to cement our very strong relations. This exercise is unique. U.S. airmen and soldiers from active and National Guard units will build four new classrooms in the Belize and Orange Walk Districts and render medical services in different villages and towns throughout the country of Belize. These infrastructure projects are being built in under-served areas and the medical component will compliment medical services currently being offered by the Government of Belize while providing valuable training to U.S. and Belizean military engineers and medical professionals. New Horizons, a humanitarian civic assistance exercise is scheduled to construct classroom buildings at Crooked Tree Government School, Trial Farm Government School, Louisiana Government School and right here at Ladyville Technical High School.”

Patrick Faber

“I say all of this ladies and gentlemen to place on record our gratitude to the U.S. Government and in particular the U.S. military forces and the New Horizon’s Belize initiative that now and for a long time in fact contributed to Belize’s education system and health care as well and other areas to make sure these kinds of infrastructural needs are met. And so I ask all of you who are present this morning and who are not a part of this U.S. ensemble to give our friends and our partners a very big hand in gratitude for these kinds of contributions. I am particularly pleased this morning as well to note that the schools that are being assisted primarily are government-owned schools. We are indeed very grateful for the partnership that the United States continues to hold with Belize. I think it is a partnership that is very widespread. But I’ve always commented that the best present, the best gift, the best cooperation that can exist between two nations and that one nation can give to each other—especially one as powerful as the United States—is education. It is one that cannot be taken back and of course it is a selfless gift.”

Vinai Thummalapally

“There are also the six medical exercises providing free medical services such as: gender medical care, family health care, public health education, dental, ophthalmology, plastic surgery and ENT (ears, nose and throat surgery). These classroom buildings will greatly improve the capacity of Belize’s ministry of education and allow principals and teachers to expand their vision by providing a good learning environment for even more youth in Belize. I am proud of this exercise and proud of everyone who has worked on the project with the government of Belize.”

And with the close of the speech and thanks given to the US Air force and other military personnel, the Ambassador and the Minister cut the ribbon to launch the project. Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.