BEETHAM, Trinidad and Tobago (ACCNS) -- Navy Seabee Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 202 and Prime Base Emergency Engineer Force from the Air Force's 5th Civil Engineer Squadron are working with Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force personnel to help rehabilitate the All-in-One Child Development Center here during the humanitarian/civic assistance mission Continuing Promise 2008
The CDC opened in 1985, operating from nothing more than a galvanized shed. Today the school has graduated from its one-room confines, but age, use and Mother Nature have taken its toll leaving the students and faculty with a deteriorating building.
"We never had the funds to give this school what it needs," said Wayne Jordan, the CDC principal. "The Americans' work is a dream come true."
The joint-service, multi-national engineering team is installing new light fixtures, ceiling fans, plumbing, a playground, a storage shed, kitchen cabinets and a perimeter fence to help the CDC continue serving as a safe and secure place for children.
"Anything we can do to help", says Air Force Master Sgt. Robert Chandler, project site manager. "They all appreciate it so much, and it's great to interact with their Defense Department to do this for their country."
As the school prepared for some much needed renovations, Jordan decided not to postpone classes.
"I believe it's a learning experience for the kids," Jordan said. "I want the kids to see how this happened. I want the kids to see who the people were that made the difference."
The engineers are scheduled to complete all repairs by Nov. 7 celebrating the renovations with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
The Seabees and Prime BEEF engineers arrived in Trinidad and Tobago Oct. 25 aboard USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) as part of CP 2008.
CP 2008 is a joint effort among the United States, partner nations and non-governmental organizations to provide humanitarian assistance to Caribbean and Central and South American countries. and to build meaningful, lasting partnerships.
CP provides support by conducting medical and engineering assistance programs ashore in response to host nation requests and requirements. The deployment's goal is to improve health, prolong life, promote training and enhance prosperity in the region.
The CP Caribbean Phase is the second of two HCA deployments to the Southern Command area of focus for 2008. The first CP deployment was conducted by USS Boxer (LHD 4) in the Pacific.
For more news on Continuing Promise, visit U.S. Southern Command's Web site at www.southcom.mil.
USAF. (U.S. Air Force Graphic by Rosario "Charo" Gutierrez)