August 26, 2002 - Peace Corps: Vasquez Visits Volunteers in Caribbean

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Headlines: Peace Corps Headlines - 2002: 08 August 2002 Peace Corps Headlines: August 26, 2002 - Peace Corps: Vasquez Visits Volunteers in Caribbean

By Admin1 (admin) on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 - 5:30 pm: Edit Post

Vasquez Visits Volunteers in Caribbean





Read and comment on this Press Release from the Peace Corps on Gaddi Vasquez's one week trip to the Caribbean where he stopped in Jamaica and in the Dominican Republic and joined in ceremonies to mark the 40th anniversary of the Peace Corps in both countries.

This is the Director's fourth trip overseas since he was sworn in six months ago. He previously traveled to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and China in March; accompanied President Bush on his trip to Peru in March; and traveled to Mauritania, Senegal and Morocco in June.

We are sure the Director is discovering that there is no substitute for getting out in the field and talking with volunteers, staff, the communities they serve, and the leaders of the countries the Peace Corps is in now and hopes to serve in the future to understand the issues facing the Peace Corps today.

Read the story at:


Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez Visits Volunteers in Caribbean Region*

* This link was active on the date it was posted. PCOL is not responsible for broken links which may have changed.



Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez Visits Volunteers in Caribbean Region

Visits Mark 40th Anniversary of Agency Programs in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic

Washington, DC, August 26, 2002—Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez embarked on a one-week fact-finding mission to Jamaica and the Dominican Republic as part of his ongoing commitment to personally gather as much information as possible on existing Peace Corps programs, meet Peace Corps volunteers and staff currently serving abroad and hear from host country officials at all levels. The visit coincides with the 40th anniversary of Peace Corps programs in Jamaica. Both nations began hosting volunteers in 1962 and have done so without interruption ever since.

Director Vasquez arrived in Kingston on Thursday, August 22nd and during his three-day visit discussed the future of the Peace Corps in Jamaica with that nation’s Prime Minister, Mr. P.J. Patterson as well as with Jamaica’s Deputy Governor General, The Right Honorable Canon Weavel Gordon. The Director also met with volunteers and staff currently working on traditional education, health and agriculture programs as well as on new initiatives involving at-risk youths and community environmental health/awareness. A highlight of the trip was a ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of the Peace Corps in Jamaica, which will include high ranking Jamaican officials and a swearing-in ceremony of new volunteers by U.S. Ambassador Sue Cobb.

On August 24th, Director Vasquez arrived in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic. His agenda included meetings with Dominican President Hipólito Mejia and Dominican Vice-President and Education Secretary Milagros Ortiz Bosch. The Director discussed ongoing Peace Corps programs and the importance of the agency’s collaboration with the Dominican government and society. Director Vasquez also visited several program sites and was briefed by volunteers and staff involved in HIV-AIDS prevention programs and educational technology initiatives.

“I am pleased and proud to visit two of America’s closest neighbors who also happen to be among the longest hosts and friends of the Peace Corps. During the past 40 years, the people of Jamaica and the Dominican Republic have worked side by side with Peace Corps volunteers on crucial socio-economic issues affecting the human condition. Not even the devastation of hurricanes has impeded our mutual commitment,” said Vasquez. “I am confident that new generations of Peace Corps volunteers, Jamaicans and Dominicans will continue the tradition of peace, prosperity and hope begun in 1962. I am eager to hear from Prime Minister Patterson and President Mejia regarding how we can best accomplish this.”

In the past four decades 3,701 volunteers have worked in the Dominican Republic while 3,421 have served in Jamaica. Worldwide, more than 165,000 volunteers have served in the Peace Corps, working in such diverse fields as agriculture, small business and community development, education, environmental conservation, health and information technology.



Click on a link below for more stories on PCOL

Help the New Peace Corps Bill pass CongressFor the Peace Corps Fallen
Senator Dodd holds Hearings on New Peace Corps LegislationThe Debate over the Peace Corps Fund
Why the Peace Corps needs a Fourth GoalThe Peace Corps 40th plus one
The Case for Peace Corps IndependenceThe Controversy over Lariam
The Peace Corps and Homeland SecurityDirector Vasquez meets with RPCVs
RPCV Congressmen support Peace Corps' autonomyPeace Corps Expansion:  The Numbers Game?
When should the Peace Corps return to Afghanistan?Peace Corps Cartoons
RPCV Character on new Fox SitcomBush and JFK



Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Peace Corps - Directors; COS - Jamaica; COS - Dominican Republic

PCOL895
24

.


Add a Message


This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.
Username:  
Password:
E-mail: