THE US Navy expeditionary fast transport USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10) docked at the Port of Port of Spain on Saturday.
A release from the US Embassy in Port of Spain stated that this was part of the US Naval Forces Southern Command/US 4th Fleet’s Continuing Promise 2023 mission.
It stated that during the mission stop, Continuing Promise medical teams will work alongside a Ministry of Health medical team to provide care in community clinics to increase medical readiness, strengthen partnerships, and enhance the combined capabilities of the US Navy and T&T to respond to public health disasters and humanitarian crises.
The team includes veterinarians, biomedical technicians, Navy Seabees who will conduct small engineering projects, and the US Fleet Forces Navy band detachment.
The Continuing Promise mission will conduct training and subject matter expert exchanges on various medical and humanitarian assistance/disaster relief topics, and will lead seminars on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) with the T&T Defense Force (TTDF) and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management.
The Navy band will perform at a public concert with the TTDF brass band at C3 Center in San Fernando on September 4 from pm and with HADCO Phase II Pan Groove on September 8 from 7 pm at Phase II pan yard, Woodbook. Both engagements are free of charge and open to the public.
United States Ambassador Candace Bond said, “The Continuing Promise 2023 mission stop in Trinidad and Tobago is another example of the strong and lasting partnership between the United States’ US Southern Command and Trinidad and Tobago. This visit will build capacity and resilience during times of crisis, enhance interoperability, and build enduring partnerships to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Caribbean.”
Continuing Promise 2023 marks the 13th mission to the region since 2007. Trinidad and Tobago is the third stop as part of a two-month deployment to the US Southern Command area of operations in Panama, Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Grenada. The Burlington previously visited Trinidad and Tobago in 2022.
