A section of the delegates Photos 1 of 3

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IN what Prime Minister the Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas praised as “a strong indicator of US support within the region”, the Force Protection Detachment (FPD) of the US Embassy has convened a seminar on arms, narcotics and human trafficking in St. Kitts.

The weeklong conference was officially declared open by PM Douglas during a ceremony at the Marriott Resort and Royal Beach Casino yesterday (Nov. 2). Security personnel from most of the OECS islands were present, as were representatives of the Overseas French Territories and the US itself.

The Embassy’s Military Liaison Office hosted a workshop in the Federation earlier this year, and coming out of those discussions, security experts called for a seminar to address the rise in arms and human smuggling.

The Regional Security System (RSS) also played a role in organising the event.

“We will have briefings from the FBI, the US Department of State and each of the participating countries. We hope to receive briefings from the RSS and the Director of Public Prosecution, Financial Intelligence Unit and Chief Medical Officer in St. Kitts-Nevis,” revealed FPD Special Agent Brian Moran.

“In addition to briefings, we will be having roundtable discussions in which participants will share techniques, methods and best law enforcement practices to effectively deal with trafficking in this region. Our main goals are to develop new strategies and strengthen our own enforcement capabilities in an effort to combat trafficking.”

Admitting that the region had paid “a heavy social and economic price” due to arms smuggling, PM Douglas expressed profound appreciation for America’s continued partnership with the Caribbean.

“[US] President Obama has pledged US$30 million towards US-Caribbean security cooperation as an expression of intent to a multi-year, multi-faceted joint security initiative...I welcome this collaboration – not in the context of benefactor-beneficiary, but of mutual interest, mutual benefit and positive, constructive and symbiotic relationships,” he noted.

PM Douglas, who is also the RSS Chairman, stressed that the region was “doing its part” to combat crime through measures such as the institutionalisation of security as the Community’s fourth pillar, and the establishment of a regional framework for the management of crime and security.