Caribbean Net News: Border security training course underway in St Lucia

CASTRIES, St Lucia: The University of the West Indies School of Continuing Education, Morne Fortune, Castries is the venue for a five day Border Security Training Course sponsored by the Government of St Lucia and the Organization of American States which began on Monday, 22nd January 2007. Participants attending the course come from the Customs and Excise, Immigration and the Law Enforcement Departments.

Ausbert Regis, Commissioner of Police, Terrence Leonard, Comptroller of Customs and Excise and members of the diplomatic corps were also in attendance, The facilitators include Messrs Hachim Ndiaye, Patrick Shea and Ralph Darden from the United States Department of Homeland Security.

This training course represents one of the many ways in which the OAS, through Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism (CICTE), is supporting Cricket World Cup 2007.

Last year OAS CICTE collaborated with the Government of St Lucia in hosting three different security enhancements related activities and arranging for several functionaries, from both the public and private sectors to attend regional security training programs.

In another week's time, the OAS will be co-hosting an aviation security workshop.

Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security, Ingrid Bullard said it should not only be about the training but the ability to maintain a high standard of integrity at all levels.

Hachim Ndiaye indicated that with the Caribbean region hosting such a huge event as the ICC CWC, the course will be extremely intense and will be targeted at the safety of visitors and nationals as well. Since the 9/11 incident and other terrorists attacks around the world, Ndiaye insists that level of security should be enhanced at all times.

OAS representative, Paul Spencer, then highlighted the importance of heightened security in our Caribbean region, since we are as vulnerable as London or Bali. Spencer reminded the gathering that serious crimes in some Caribbean countries is cause for concern and the possible collaboration between such criminals and terrorists is frightening. Hence the Customs, Immigration and Law Enforcement Officers must play a critical role in the fight against terrorism and the association other criminal elements who make the world unsafe.

Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, Dr Keith Mondesir emphasised the need for a high level of security at ports of entry and frontline officers should not let their guards down at any time. With the Caribbean region hosting such a world-class event with thousands of visitors expected from all walks of life it is imperative that in order for the event to be successful everyone should be safe.

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