PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - Senior leaders from the Delaware National Guard visited the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago; Delaware’s state partner. The visit was a goodwill mission, building and growing the existing partnership. The trip included visits to the Embassy and the various training bases of the Defence Forces.
At the Embassy, the Guard’s key leaders met with the charge d’affaires, Margaret Diop, and the deputy chief of mission, Keith Gilgus, exchanging thoughts and ideas on the message of the visit and how Delaware and Trinidad and Tobago can work together and help each other.
"Our goal is to nurture and grow our relationship with Trinidad and Tobago," said Maj. Gen. Frank Vavala, adjutant general, Delaware National Guard.
The remainder of the visit was spent with the Defence Force Commander and his formation commanders. The Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force is similar to the Delaware National Guard, including Army and Air units. The Defence Force has additional manpower with coast guard and reserve units.
The Defence Force engages a broad spectrum; at any point in time, given any disaster or crisis response, they are going to get the call. "It is important to optimize the resources we have, so we can continue to grow our Defence Force," said Maj. Gen. Kenrick Maharaj, chief of Defence staff.
In addition to goodwill missions, the Delaware National Guard along with the state’s various agencies participate in subject matter exchanges that include topics ranging from critical infrastructure protection to human trafficking.
Brig. Gen. Scott Chambers, assistant adjutant general, Delaware Army National Guard, said, "we are prepared to provide unique resources that may not be the fix, but a way that we look at and take care of issues."
Even though Trinidad and Tobago’s Defence Force is significantly larger than the Delaware National Guard, both share similar fields of expertise. Expanding the state partnership program to include training opportunities between those fields of expertise, would be beneficial for everyone involved. Maj. Gen. Vavala said, "we learn as much from them as they take from us."
The Delaware Guard’s senior leaders reinforced their commitment to their sister country and to Maj. Gen. Maharaj and his formation commanders. The mantra of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force sums up the relationship between the Delaware National Guard and their sister country, "Together We Aspire, Together We Achieve."