5th CES Airmen, Kearsarge resurrect hope in Trinidad and Tobago

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago -- Staff Sgt. Chris Nelson, 5th Civil Engineer Squadron heating, ventilation, air conditioning craftsman, currently embarked aboard USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), takes a break from renovation work at the All in One Child Development Center to entertain some of the children during Continuing Partnership (CP) 2008. CP 2008 is a collaborative effort between the United States and partner militaries, non-governmental organizations, and partner-nation support organizations to build strong partnerships that can be called upon in the event of a regional situation requiring cooperative solutions. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gina Wollman)

5th CES Airmen, Kearsarge resurrect hope in Trinidad and Tobago

TUNAPUNA, Trinidad and Tobago -- Master Sgts. Robert Chandler and Ray Bedwell, both of the 5th Civil Engineer Squadron currently embarked aboard USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), conduct a site survey before beginning engineering operations at Cyril Ross Nursery as part of the partnership between Continuing Promise 2008 and Trinidad-Tobago. CP 2008 is a collaborative effort between the United States and partner militaries, non-governmental organizations, and partner-nation support organizations to build strong partnerships that can be called upon in the event of a regional situation requiring cooperative solutions. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) David Danals)

5th CES Airmen, Kearsarge resurrect hope in Trinidad and Tobago

TUNAPUNA, Trinidad and Tobago -- Staff Sgt. Scott Boucher, 5th Civil Engineer Squadron structural craftsman, and Navy Chief Steelworker Gerald Wheeler, both embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), conduct a site survey here recently before beginning engineering operations at Cyril Ross Nursery as part of the partnership between Continuing Promise 2008 and Trinidad-Tobago. CP 2008 is a collaborative effort between the United States and partner militaries, non-governmental organizations, and partner-nation support organizations to build strong partnerships that can be called upon in the event of a regional situation requiring cooperative solutions. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class David Danals)

5th CES Airmen, Kearsarge resurrect hope in Trinidad and Tobago

Published Nov. 12, 2008
Continuing Promise 2008 Public Affairs

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago -- In 2004, a 70-year mission of hope here was buried in a pile of rubble.

The Mount Carmel Hostel, which for decades provided shelter and a new start for women in need, saw its mission come to an abrupt halt when the hostel's roof collapsed. A lack of funding has since kept the hostel closed.

But today, Mount Carmel, and the hope it provides, is being resurrected.

Airmen from the 5th Civil Engineer Squadron Prime Base Engineer Emergency Force and engineers assigned to Navy Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 202, currently embarked aboard the USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), aas well as troops from Trinidad and Tobago are renovating the hostel as part of the humanitarian/civic assistance mission Continuing Promise 2008, being conducted in the Caribbean island nation Oct. 25 to Nov. 7.

5th CES Airmen and Navy Seabees, Kearsarge Sailors, along with local military service members, are also replacing ceiling tiles, painting the interior, replacing electrical wiring, installing new plumbing and new doors.

Engineers expect to complete the renovation by Nov. 7 and anticipate the hostel reopening soon thereafter.

Sister Katrina Charles, manager of the St. Jude's School for Girls that oversees Mount Carmel, said the hostel's reopening couldn't come soon enough.

"This area is crying out for help," said Charles. "We provide hope and the hostel provides the help they need."

St. Jude's School for Girls here provides education for local children and housing for women in need, supporting individuals until they are ready to support themselves.

"This is the first time I've seen any military do something like this," said Charles. "We don't have the money to make the repairs and without this help, they may not have been made."

The 5th CES engineers and Navy Seabees are also conducting extensive renovation work at the All in One Child Development Center and the Cyril Ross Nursery in the Port of Spain and Tunapuna region.

Kearsarge's mission exemplifies the U.S.' maritime strategy, which emphasizes deploying forces to build confidence and trust among nations through collective maritime security efforts that focus on common threats and mutual interests.

The CP Caribbean Phase is the second of two missions to the Southern Command area of responsibility for 2008. The first mission was conducted by USS Boxer (LHD 4) in the Pacific.

For more news on CP, log on to SOUTHCOM's Web site at www.southcom.mil.