PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – A contingent of 200 personnel from the United States Army South (USARSO) is in Trinidad and Tobago to undertake various community-related and humanitarian projects in partnership with the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force, the Ministry of National Security said in a release today, April 21st.
The exercise is codenamed, “Beyond the Horizon 2008,” and will be conducted over a three-month period – March 10 to June 15, 2008.
The US Army team includes Army Reserve personnel from the Delaware Engineer Unit, New York Engineer Unit and other specialist arms of the military service comprising medical staff, engineers, rotary wing (helicopter) pilots and security staff.
Approximately sixty (60) T&T Defence Force personnel will be working alongside them on a daily basis, exchanging valuable knowledge and hands-on experience in the process.
The joint team of US and T&T Regiment personnel will carry out construction and renovation works on the Princess Elizabeth Home, at Ariapita Avenue; the St. Mary’s Children’s Home, in Tacarigua; the Sangre Grande Extended Care Hospital, the Regimental Barracks of the First Infantry Battalion of the T&T Regiment, and the Youth Training Academy at Mausica.
The team has already commenced medical training exercises at Chaguanas and Laventille. These will be expanded to Arima, Sangre Grande and Toco.
Similar projects were conducted in T&T through this joint partnership project with the US Army in 1992, 1993, 1997, and 2000.
At present the US/TT contingent is carrying out repair and construction works at the St. Mary’s Home and the Princess Elizabeth Centre, where they are expected to be for the next few months.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Bridagier Edmund Dillon expressed his full support for this humanitarian initiative between foreign and local Forces and is indeed gracious to the Ministry of National Security for supporting and facilitating these projects.
