July 8, 2005: Headlines: COS - Gabon: Peace Corps: Peace Corps Suspends Program in Gabon
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July 8, 2005: Headlines: COS - Gabon: Peace Corps: Peace Corps Suspends Program in Gabon
| July 8, 2005: PC suspends program in Gabon Peace Corps announced the suspension of the program in Gabon citing the high cost of the program. In addition, a 2003 Inspector General report documented safety and security costs of $1 million that would be necessary to keep the program operating successfully. Background: In 1998 Peace Corps Volunteer Karen Phillips was was found murdered in the weeds about 100 yards from her home in Oyem, Gabon. Her killer has never been brought to justice. |
Peace Corps Suspends Program in Gabon
Factors contributing to the program suspension include the high cost of the Gabon program, weighing in at over three times as much as the average Peace Corps program in Africa, and a scarcity in finding host country counterparts to work with the volunteers and ensure their transition into the community — an element that is critical in the volunteers' success. In addition, a 2003 Inspector General report documented safety and security costs of $1 million that would be necessary to keep the program operating successfully.
Peace Corps Suspends Program in Gabon
Peace Corps Suspends Program in Gabon
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 8, 2005 – Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez announced today that the Peace Corps will officially suspend its program in the African nation of Gabon effective August 31. The decision comes after a 2-year review of operations that showed significantly higher costs to support the volunteers in Gabon relative to other Peace Corps programs in Africa.
"The Peace Corps regrets the necessity to suspend the program in Gabon after a 31-year partnership with its citizens. More than 1,460 Americans have respectfully and honorably assisted the people of Gabon as Peace Corps volunteers through a long history, dating back to 1963 when the first group arrived to build schools in rural areas," said Director Vasquez.
All Peace Corps volunteers in Gabon completed their primary projects in the sectors of health and HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, education, and environmental education. As of July 5, all Peace Corps volunteers had completed their service and left the country.
Factors contributing to the program suspension include the high cost of the Gabon program, weighing in at over three times as much as the average Peace Corps program in Africa, and a scarcity in finding host country counterparts to work with the volunteers and ensure their transition into the community — an element that is critical in the volunteers' success. In addition, a 2003 Inspector General report documented safety and security costs of $1 million that would be necessary to keep the program operating successfully. The Peace Corps will continue to assess the situation in Gabon and will look at the possibility of re-entry in the future.
When this story was posted in June 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:
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| American Taboo: A Peace Corps Tragedy Returned Volunteers met with author Philip Weiss in Baltimore on June 18 to discuss the murder of Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner. Weiss was a member of a panel that included three psychiatrists and a criminal attorney. Meanwhile, the Seattle U.S. Attorney's office announced that Dennis Priven cannot be retried for the murder. "We do not believe this case can be prosecuted by anyone, not only us, but in any other jurisdiction in the United States." Read background on the case here. |
| June 14: Peace Corps suspends Haiti program After Uzbekistan, the Peace Corps has announced the suspension of a second program this month - this time in Haiti. Background: The suspension comes after a US Embassy warning, a request from Tom Lantos' office, and the program suspension last year. For the record: PCOL supports Peace Corps' decision to suspend the two programs and commends the agency for the efficient way PCVs were evacuated safely. Our only concern now is with the placement of evacuated PCVs and the support they receive after interrupted service. |
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