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U.S. Ambassador to St. Lucia Visits USS Farragut

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080921-09
Release Date: 9/21/2008 5:47:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman (SW) Shanika L. Futrell

CASTRIES, St. Lucia (NNS) -- The U.S. ambassador to the East Caribbean States visited the guided-missile destroyer USS Farragut (DDG 99) Sept. 11.

U.S. Ambassador Mary Martin Ourisman -- joined by the Honorable Denzil Douglas, prime minister of St. Kitts and Nevis and the Honorable Stephenson King, prime minister of St. Lucia -- attended a shipboard reception. The event was held to further strengthen relationships between the United States and other nations during the Farragut deployment in support of the Partnership of the Americas 2008 (POA 08). POA 08 engagement takes place throughout South America, Central America and the Caribbean.

"The U.S. ambassador was on board to show the high-level of support the U.S. has towards strengthening and continuing the already strong relationship between the United States and St. Lucia," said Farragut Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Scott Dugan.

Ourisman and King expressed to Dugan that they were pleased to have his ship and crew members visiting Castries, St. Lucia.

"We have had several ships visit St. Lucia, and it is an honor to welcome Captain Dugan and his Sailors here for their port visit," said Ourisman.

"I am also happy to have you here as well, and I understand that the ship has conducted a Project Handclasp delivery at the school that I am a graduate of," said King.

King also added that he was elated to know that volunteers from Farragut and CDS 40 have helped the children at a school that he attended.

Ourisman worked with Sailors at the St. Lucia Seventh-Day Adventist Primary School where they donated boook, toys and hygiene items to the children who attend.

Ourisman and King cut a cake with the U.S. flag and the St. Lucia flag decorated on it as a sign of unity.

"Holding receptions such as the one held in St. Lucia gives the ship's crew and members from the St. Lucian Maritime Police and local government an opportunity to relax, talk and get to know a little more about each other's culture, traditions and way of life in a comfortable, relaxed setting," said Dugan.

Dugan also added that the Farragut Sailors were extremely busy in St. Lucia contributing to the theater security cooperation (TSC) mission.

"Sailors participated in subject-matter-expert exchanges with members of the St. Lucian Maritime Police, discussing the tools, procedures and methodologies that are used by both the U.S. Navy and St. Lucian Maritime Police," said Dugan. "It was an opportunity to learn from each other, and gave both groups some insight into how the other operates. In addition, Sailors used their free time to renovate and paint the Vieux Fort Community Care Center, as well as work with the children of the St. Lucia Castries Seventh-Day Adventist Academy School to put some work into their school."

TSC is an ongoing effort to improve cooperation and interoperability between partner nations in the region and is a primary mission for U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO).

TSC engagements ensure that partners in the region have the opportunity to foster military-to-military contact with regional maritime forces, which maintains operational control of ships deploying to the U.S. Southern Command Area of Focus (AOF). It is also a part of the POA 08 mission designed to enhance multinational interoperability and regional stability throughout the AOF.

For more news from USS Farragut, visit www.navy.mil/local/ddg99.