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USNS Comfort Visits Bullet Tree
On Wednesday San Ignacio Community Police officers along with personnel from the BDF,US Marines, US Army and US Navy gave out hygiene kits, book bags and school supplies to to the student of both primary schools in Bullet Tree Village.
Primary School Children from Bullet Tree Falls in the Cayo District were on Wednesday of last week, the recipients of numerous gifts from members of the U.S Naval Hospital Ship USNS COMFORT. As part of the effort, teams from the Belize Defense Force, Belize Police Force, the United States Marine Corp and the United States Armed Forces South and Southern Command descended on Bullet Tree Falls to cheer children from both the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic and Seventh Day Adventist Primary School.
In a small ceremony last Wednesday, children from the Immaculate Conception did the traditional 'Hog Head Dance' in appreciation to the visit by the U.S marines and companions.
Major Charles Lollar from the United States Marines told those in attendance that the U.S Forces are very adamant in protecting the children of Belize. Charles Lollar, who has been in Belize since January, said that when Belize prospers, children will also prosper. He said that he was appreciative of the friendliness of many Belizeans and the way religious faith is upheld.
Also greeting the US Marines was Rufino Pott, the Village Chairman of Bullet Tree Falls. According to Rufino Pott, Bullet Tree Falls, located about 3 miles away from San Ignacio and bordering the Mopan River, was given its name by the English. Rufino Pott told the US Marines that there are now 4000 persons living in Bullet Tree Falls.
"Thank you very much for giving us a gift to our children," said Rufino Pott.
Gifts were delivered by the US Marines to the children while a band coming from the U.S Naval Hospital played on.
According to a Press Fact Sheet issued by the U.S Embassy in Belmopan, the 2015 deployment of the USNS COMFORT will further develop partnerships with nations of the region, to improve the collective capacity to respond in support of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts in the region. The program is supported primarily through the Regional Gang Initiative Program, which the U.S Government provides assistance to the Government of Belize for combating gang related crime and violence. The $40 million projected budget for Continuing Promise 2015, targets people of the Caribbean, Central and South America and has also brought much good will and cheer to the people of Bullet Tree Falls.