NEW ORLEANS, USA, Wed. July 21, 2021– Last week, the Louisiana National Guard celebrated 25 years of its State Partnership Program with Belize by hosting a Belizean delegation headed by Minister of National Defence and Border Security, Hon. Florencio Marin, Jr., at their military facility in New Orleans, Louisiana.

According to Minister Marin, on his working visit to the military base in the United States, his delegation met with the High Command of the Louisiana National Guard for an appraisal of the State Partnership Program, which has provided assistance to Belize for over 25 years. Thus far, the Louisiana National Guard and Belize have collaborated on 270 projects, with their most recent being the development of a state-of-the-art fire emergency response station. In addition, the Louisiana National Guard has also aided in the construction of a number of schools and public buildings in the country and the upgrading and repair of highly trafficked roads.

Future initiatives that will be carried out with the aid of the Louisiana National Guard include the training of members of the Belize Defence Force (BDF) and the Belize Coast Guard, as well as programs that give troubled Belizean youth access to a productive environment and shapes them into model citizens; and the passing on of knowledge and skills to relevant organizations and stakeholders in the country.

The Belizean delegation also met Governor of Louisiana, John Bel Edwards, who presented the delegation with a commendation to acknowledge Belize’s collaboration with the Louisiana National Guard.