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Dominican Republic Welcomes Continuing Promise 2008

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS081004-16
Release Date: 10/4/2008 8:45:00 PM

By Continuing Promise 2008 Public Affairs

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (NNS) -- National and local government officials from the Dominican Republic and medical, engineering, international and interagency personnel embarked on USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), gathered on Don Diego Pier in Santo Domingo Oct. 3 for a welcoming ceremony for Continuing Promise (CP) 2008.

CP is a humanitarian civic-assistance (HCA) mission to Central and South American and the Caribbean to provide medical, dental and engineering assistance to the people of the region.

"This is a mission between partners, between friends, between neighbors," said U.S. Navy Capt. Fernandez "Frank" Ponds, CP 2008 mission commander. "Thank you for allowing us to team with your country to plan this humanitarian assistance mission – a mission that will enhance stability, security and prosperity for the Dominican Republic, the region and the United States."

By collaborating with the Dominican Republic and other partner nations, the United States is working toward strengthening relationships and ensuring regional stability in Central and South American and the Caribbean.

The nearly 1,500 professionals embarked in support of CP will work together with partner nation medical and engineering professionals to assist the people of Santo Domingo, Bonao, Las Calderas and Bayaguana and Sabado Grande de Boya.

"We hope that this type of exercise in 2008 will continue in future years," said Dominican Republic Navy Chief Vice Admiral Julio C. Ventura Bayonet. "We look forward to future HCA operations with brotherly nations like the U.S."

CP's mission in Central and South America is part of the Partnership of the Americas initiative. The medical and engineering capability this mission brings helps demonstrate the United States' commitment to fostering cooperative partnerships among allies.

Kearsarge's mission exemplifies the United States 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 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 Naval Forces Southern Command- U.S. Fourth Fleet visit www.navy.mil/local/cusns/.