APS Arleigh Burke Sailors Refurbish an Intercity Park in Mauritius

Photo By Chief Petty Officer Gary Keen | USS Arleigh Burke Sailors work together with U.S. Embassy in Mauritius personnel and the local community to remove a tree stump while refurbish one of only a few public parks during a community outreach project in Port Louie, Mauritius. Arleigh Burke pulled in Port Louie, July 30, to kick off in port and at sea training with the Mauritius National Coast Guard as part of the Africa Partnership Station.  

PORT LOUIS, MAURITIUS

08.01.2009

Courtesy Story

U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet

PORT LOUIS, Mauritius - USS Arleigh Burke Sailors refurbished an intercity park as part of a community outreach project during Africa Partnership Station Arleigh Burke's port visit, Aug 1.

Twenty Sailors from APS Arleigh Burke along with U.S. Embassy personnel worked together with the local community to refurbished Floreal Park, one of only a few public parks in Mauritius.

"Many of us pass this park on our way home from work and see children playing on rusted out playground equipment," said Virginia Blaser, charge` d` affairs, U.S. Embassy in Port Louis, Mauritius. "We have been talking to the mayor about it... we met with some of the community leaders three or four months ago, but we just didn't have the labor we needed to help with the refurbishments. Then the ship [Arleigh Burke] pulled in and it was just such a great combination of everyone working together."

Renovations to the park included replacing all the old play ground equipment, building fences, cutting down old trees, clearing bushes, painting, and many other minor repairs.

"I have been doing community relations projects ever since I joined the Navy, and I really think this project will make a huge impact," said Petty Officer 1st Class John McCalmant. "Any time you have members of the local community coming out to help with the project you know the project is personal to them."

During the park renovations many people from the local community came out of their homes, offering their thanks and help to Sailors of APS Arleigh Burke and U.S. Embassy personnel.

"Thank you all for coming out here to fix up our park," said Mr. Alain Woomed, a local Mauritius citizen. "I used to take care of the park, but it just became too much work for me to do by myself."

APS Arleigh Burke Sailors have completed seven community outreach projects in Djibouti, Mombasa, and Mauritius Seychelles and Simon's Town, South Africa.

APS is a multinational initiative under the auspices of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa which is designed to work cooperatively with U.S., South American, European and African partners to enhance maritime safety and security on the African continent. It is a concept that provides a unique venue to align maritime engagements by employing a diverse team of maritime professionals in a variety of military capacities and civilian fields such as fisheries management, port security and meteorology.

Arleigh Burke, a guided missile destroyer homeported in Norfolk, Va., is the second APS platform to visit South and East Africa, and recently conducted theater security cooperation's with partners in Djibouti, Seychelles, Kenya and South Africa.

• Date Taken: 08.01.2009
• Date Posted: 08.04.2009 12:33
• Story ID: 37124
• Location: PORT LOUIS, MU