BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, 22nd August 2011 - Apart from the explosion of Cubana flight 455 on October 6, 1976 over Barbados and the hijacking of CanJet Flight 918 at Sangster International Airport, Jamaica on April 19, 2009, unlawful acts against civil aviation are not a frequent occurrence in the Caribbean. Nevertheless, St. Kitts and Nevis cannot afford to be complacent or be fooled by the idea "it cannot happen at the RL Bradshaw or the VA Amory International Airport".
It is for this reason the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport continue to build capacity within our security agencies to protect passengers, crew, ground personnel and the general public from acts of unlawful interference at the airports.
In collaboration with the Organization of American States (OAS), the Inter-American Committee against terrorism (CICTE ) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of the United States, Friday 19, August saw the conclusion of the first Preventive Security Measures Training Course in St. Kitts and Nevis convened at the Ministry of International Transport conference room, Port Zante, Basseterre, St. Kitts.
The course was highly successful and aimed to explore Civil Aviation Security from a local perspective. With modules on risk management and local Civil Aviation Security concerns, the Preventive Measures Course introduced the participants to the National Civil Aviation Security Program of St. Kitts and Nevis and other relevant documents.
From day one, participants worked in teams to explore four specific topics with the needs of St. Kitts and Nevis in mind: Passenger and Cabin Baggage; cargo, Catering and Mail, Access Control and Aviation Security; and Hold Baggage. The course also included an airport visit to the RLB International Airport.
According to Mr. Royston Griffin of the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport and participant on the course, "The course was very practical and gave all the participants the opportunity to develop some knowledge in the area of screening of passengers, cabin and hold baggage and access control stressing the need for the right screening procedures and the need for security officers to be professional in carrying their duty."
Since the International Civil Aviation Organization Convention via Annex 17 gave member states the rights to co-operate with other states regarding training, the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport, on behalf of St. Kitts and Nevis, will continue to partner with countries like the United States to build capacity to prevent acts of unlawful interference to Civil Aviation in St. Kitts and Nevis.
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