2008 Speeches

March 26, 2008

Dr. Roy L. Austin
United States Ambassador
Brief Remarks at the Opening Ceremony for
"Beyond the Horizon Exercise 2008"
Military Led Academic Training Facility, Mausica

Ambassador Austin addressing the audience

Dr. Surujrattan Rambachan, Mayor of Chaguanas
Ms. Veronica Belgrave, Ministry of National Security
Mr. Kent Moore, Group Captain, Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force
Col. Phillips, Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force
Mr. D. Singh, Police Superintendent, Chaguanas Police Station
Sgt. Lloyd Somes, Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago
Ms. Erica McCollins, Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago

Other members of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force
Members of the Media

Ladies and Gentlemen

Good morning!

It is a pleasure to welcome you to the opening ceremony for "Beyond the Horizon Exercise 2008" for Trinidad and Tobago.  The U.S. and Trinidad and Tobago enjoy warm and strong ties across a wide range of areas.  We look for opportunities to collaborate where possible and when mutually beneficial, always respectful on one another's sovereignty.  I am glad to be here to celebrate yet another example of this cooperation.

A common interest we share is to improve the education, health and national security of our citizens.  The humanitarian projects that Beyond the Horizons will undertake, chosen in close consultation with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, are focused in these areas.  While we trust that these efforts bring benefits to you, we also benefit by having the opportunity to practice our skills where they are needed and, hopefully, appreciated. 
In addition, we benefit -- and you benefit -- by having our militaries work together in a collaborative and learning fashion.  The U.S. military will operate side-by-side with the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force, even as the Embassy and civilian government ministries maintain an active dialogue on these projects.

The "Partnership for the Americas Engagement Team," as the combined U.S.-Trinidad and Tobago military team conducting Beyond the Horizons will be known, will jointly assist the people of Trinidad and Tobago by conducting humanitarian and civic assistance projects.  There will be many projects over the months of this exercise, including the construction of schools and clinics and the provision of free medical care to the needy.  Other activities will include the exchange of construction and technical expertise (such as how to do reverse osmosis to guarantee troops and others clean water), and activities undertaken as part of the state partnership program between Trinidad and Tobago's Defense Force and the Delaware state National Guard.

I look forward to visiting at least some of these projects as they are completed.  They will be concrete expressions of the lasting friendship between our countries.

Thank you.