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U.S. warship arrives on humanitarian mission
– to cut backlog for prostate surgeries, address health care needs of North West District
The U.S Navy ship USS Kearsarge anchored 17 miles off Guyana’s coast yesterday as it prepared to start a two-week mission focused on providing medical care to Amerindian communities and carrying out construction activities in and around Georgetown.
The USS Kearsarge is a multipurpose wasp-class amphibious assault ship, and at least one of the countries it has visited on its six-country mission to Latin America and the Caribbean has expressed concern about the use of this kind of vessel for the stated purpose.
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has accused the U.S of spying, using the face of humanitarian work.
He believes that America could have sent a hospital ship, rather than an assault ship, for its medical mission.
U.S Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Andrew Bryson teaches Sister Helena of the Carmelite Sisters Convent in Trinidad how to use the Internet
Captain Fernandez Ponds, speaking to some members of the Guyanese media who boarded the ship in Trinidad and sailed back home with it late Friday, dismissed concerns that the mission was anything but humanitarian.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the mission in Trinidad on Thursday, Ponds asserted that the mission was also intended to strengthen the stability and security of Latin America and the Caribbean.
He told the Guyanese media that the region is an important partner with the United States, and as such the mission here will be aimed at strengthening relationships, which will include military exchanges.
The USS Kearsarge comes to Guyana with some 1,500 personnel from all branches of the U.S military – Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and the Coast Guard – and includes officers from the militaries of Brazil, the Netherlands, Canada and France, Ponds said.
This is the last stop for the USS Kearsarge on its mission to Latin America and the Caribbean.
Before coming to Guyana, the mission, tagged “Continuing Promise 2008”, treated some 5,700 patients at various centres in Trinidad, and also carried some 47 patients onboard for treatment and surgeries.
While in Guyana, the U.S medical personal will be deployed to the North West communities of Mabaruma, Port Kaituma and Santa Rosa, while a specialist doctor from Project Hope (a U.S. Non-Governmental Organisation) will be attached to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation to help cut the backlog for prostate surgeries.
The services by the medical team will include general and specialty surgical care, dental care, optometric care (including providing free eyeglasses), immunizations, de-worming, and veterinary services.
Those who need surgeries will be transported aboard the vessel via helicopter.
The USS Kearsarge is designed to carry and receive air-cushioned landing crafts used to move troops, Harrier 11 helicopters, and vertical take-off and landing planes.
About 60 military engineering and construction troops will provide support to the humanitarian mission, and will be engaged in repair and construction works at the East Ruimveldt Community Center, the West Demerara Regional Hospital Canteen, the Houston Community High School, and the Guyana Red Cross Children’s Convalescent Home.
According to Captain Ponds, the mission was agreed to after careful talks with the Guyana Government, and is targeted towards meeting the needs identified by them.
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