BDF sends third medical rotation to Venezuela

The Barbados Defence Force has deployed its third rotation of medics to Venezuela to continue to treat survivors of the June catastrophic earthquake, with Caracas’s envoy here expressing gratitude for the aid as she joined the team.

The latest contingent departed the Grantley Adams International Airport on Friday, with the soldiers expected to spend four weeks in Venezuela before returning home.

Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Julia Dabreo said the deployment would focus on safety, professionalism and providing the required medical support.

“Some of them are deploying to Venezuela for the first time. Some of them, this will be… their second rotation, having gone on the first rotation.”

She reminded the soldiers that they were representing Barbados and were expected to conduct themselves accordingly.

“It is a national asset, which means that on deployment, we expect for them to be professional at all times with respect to the services that would be provided to our neighbours.”

The commanding officer said the BDF’s field medical hospital capability allowed the force to “assist our neighbours” when required.

The deployment was also an opportunity for the soldiers to apply their training while representing the country.

“For us, it is something that we essentially were required to do as relates to our training, and we will put in all the effort to represent Barbados,” she said.

While the third rotation was leaving Barbados, members of the second group were scheduled to return home Friday afternoon.

Also travelling with the contingent was Venezuela’s Chargé d’Affaires Martha Ortega Peraza who thanked the BDF personnel for the work they were about to undertake in the northern coastal city of Guarenas, one of the areas hardest hit by the quake.

“My gratitude to Barbados and the people and the Government of Barbados, the defence force, and all the volunteers that have been working very hard in Guarenas,” she said.

“I receive a lot of messages from people of the area expressing their gratitude, how the relationship between the personnel from Barbados and the other Caribbean countries… has been supporting what is happening in Venezuela.”

She added: “And I don’t have enough English words to express my gratitude.

“And I’m more than happy that I can travel with you today.”

The devastating June 24 double-earthquake, consisting of a magnitude 7.2 foreshock and a magnitude 7.5 mainshock, struck north-central Venezuela, resulting in over 6 500 confirmed deaths and widespread destruction across Caracas and La Guaira. (LE)