BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, November 20th 2009 (SKNDF) - Members of the St. Kitts Nevis Defence Force (SKNDF) deployed for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2009 that will be held in Trinidad and Tobago, arrived at Piarco International Airport, Trinidad at 6:35 a.m. today, Friday, 20 November 2009.
The troops were processed through immigration and customs quickly and officially welcomed by the Operations Planning and Co-ordination Staff (OPACS) Public Affairs Officer, Superintendent Joanne James who also introduced other senior officials of OPACS present at the airport to the arriving troops.
Ms. James extended a warm welcome to the troops and expressed gratitude on behalf of the Government and people of Trinidad and Tobago to the arriving soldiers from St. Kitts Nevis and Barbados. Both contingents arrived on the same Caribbean Airline flight.
Ms. James recognized the valuable contribution that troops from the CARICOM countries made to the Fifth Summit of the America (VSOA) earlier in March of this year, resulting in a safe and secured environment and incident free summit. She alluded to the confidence Trinidad and Tobago has in the the troops for their professionalism, ethics and morale as already established from VSOA 5 and expects the same outcome for CHOGM 2009. Ms. James also stressed the importance of troops sharing in the rich and diversified traditions and cultures of Trinidad and Tobago while in the country to make their visit complete.
Senior Superintendent Roderick John welcomed the troops on behalf of the Gold Commander for CHOGM 2009, Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams, who could not be present due to other urgent administrative demands and, similarly, Major Malcolm Nedd, Chief Staff Officer OPACS expressed warm welcome and appreciation on behalf of Lt. Col Darnley Wyke, the Senior Military Officer, OPACS.
The troops were then transported to the recently refurbished Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) Reserves barracks at Macqueeripe, Chaguaramas, where adequate and comfortable facilities have been prepared to accommodate all visiting troops.
