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| Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas (left) receives a plaque commemorating the USS Monterey's visit along with an admiral baseball cap from Captain Robert Oldani. |
Basseterre, St. Kitts (May 03, 2006): The cruiser USS Monterey is spending three days in St. Kitts and Nevis, its second port of call during a goodwill visit of the region which highlights the United States "Partnership of the Americas" programme.
Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas and Minister of State, Senator Nigel Carty were among government officials, members of the diplomatic corps and security force personnel who were recognized during a ceremony on Tuesday evening.
The Monterey's Commanding Officer, Captain Robert Oldani presented the prime minister and the other abovementioned guests with a plaque commemorating the ship's visit along with a commander/admiral baseball cap. He also expressed pleasure with the visit.
Prime Minister Douglas welcomed the commander and crew and
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| Officers and crewmembers of the USS Monterey lined up to take pictures with Prime Minister Douglas. |
highlighted the deep bond of friendship that the twin island federation shares with the United States. "There is no doubt that we have been involved in very many exchanges of friendship in the past but having you here on this special occasion is indeed a treat for us and our people," he said.
The prime minister told the Navy officials that St. Kitts and Nevis has a population of approximately 45,000 living on a combined 100 square miles of land. He stressed that the nation shares a firm conviction with the principles of democracy.
"We are a people who love our freedom (and) who can boast of our very strong ties to democracy," PM Douglas stressed. "We cherish our relationship with the United States of America. It ensures that we can collaborate with each other to preserve " not only for this generation, but for generations to come" the freedoms of our people and our very strong adherence to the principles of democracy.
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| The USS Monterey docked at Port Zante in Basseterre. |
"It is in this spirit that we are pleased to have you here. I believe your exchanges & with our people over the next few days will cement that relationship and will continue to send a very strong signal to your country that we cherish the relationship that we have."
The media and other officials toured the ship on Tuesday.
More than 300 crewmembers of the USS Monterey were granted shore leave which gives them a chance to go sightseeing and experience the unique Kittitian-Nevisian culture. Other shore activities include the painting and beautification of the Children's Home.
A team from the ship is scheduled to square off against a team from the security forces in a friendly football match at the Gardens Sporting Complex today. On Thursday, a donation of books will be made to the Charles A. Halbert Library.
"Our time ashore is just as important as our underway operations because we actually engage with our regional partners and strengthen our ties to them," Captain Oldani is quoted as saying in a press release from the public affairs office of the George Washington Carrier Strike Group.
The guided missile cruiser is part of this strike group which is taking part in the "Partnership of the Americas," a deployment designed to enhance regional maritime security and strengthen ties through operations and exercises with Caribbean and Latin American partner nations.
Since leaving its home port in Norfolk, Virginia on April 04, the Monterey has conducted unit level training, participated in a community relations project and engaged in counter narco-terrorism surveillance.
