PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad: Strong cooperation between the countries of the Caribbean and their international partners has been a hallmark of success of the security of the Cricket World Cup 2007.

A Joint Regional Task Force established under the CARICOM Regional Security Plan brought together law enforcement and military assets from all nine host Caribbean countries, Dominica and Bermuda to enhance national security provisions for the CWC. Security forces from an International Support Group of countries from outside the Region, including Colombia, India and South Africa have also been part of the operation.

Members of the Force from both the Region and the international group have been pleased at the operation and enjoyed the experience of working together.

Assistant Commissioner of Police, Smith Roberts, of the Royal Grenada Police Force said: “The Taskforce has worked quite well and there have been no problems as far as interoperability issues are concerned. I have been working on the security and operational aspects for Cricket World Cup, alongside military and police officers from the OECS and other parts of the region such as Trinidad, Jamaica and Guyana. The operations have gone smoothly and there have been no breaches of security.”

South African police officers are part of the Taskforce and Assistant Commissioner Mark Fryer believes that the integration of South African Officers has been successful.

“I am head of Specialized Operations in the South African Police Service and have been deployed abroad many times to give international assistance as well as on international peace keeping operations. As far as the security operation for the Cricket World Cup is concerned, I think everything is going very well,” he said.

“The cooperation between all the forces involved is good and in my view, the local people, Task force and local police are doing a very good job and our integration into the force has gone very well. The deployment to the Caribbean is my first deployment here and the first deployment of the South African Police Service to this region. I foresee that we are now going to continue this constructive working relationship with the local police in areas such as training, so this may be the first visit, but it is certainly not the last one,” he added.

His colleague Superintendent Maria Ramoodingwane supported the view that the operation had been going very well.

“The activity in the venue command centre has been good and people have been of great assistance to us. We have had no problems in communicating with them. This is my second international deployment. It is my first time in the Caribbean and if possible I would like to be deployed here again because the people are very friendly and communication is not a problem,” she said. “I have enjoyed my stay in the Caribbean.”

The young Caribbean officers expressed their appreciation for the experience. Police Constable Nivet of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service said: “Working with the regional forces we experience different cultures and different attitudes to work. We may achieve the things we want differently but we got the job done. In my view the operation is going well, working with the people here in Grenada as well as the other countries.”

A colleague officer, Police Constable John added: “I have been to St Vincent, St Lucia and Barbados. It is the experience of a lifetime to work with other police and military organizations of the region for law enforcement. It is a privilege and a pleasure to be a member of this force.”

Other members of the Force expressed similar sentiments and all have said that the legacy of the co-operation meant a closer working relationship across the region and with new found friends across the world.

This international co-operation, in addition to other measures put in place such as the Special Visa Regime to govern a Single Domestic Space, have so far ensured that those attending the tournament have done so in a safe, secure and stable environment.