BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Federation had another opportunity of being represented at the Sanitary and Psytosanitary (SPS) Study Tour in Chile, during the period January 19-24, 2009.
St. Clair Percy Williams, Plant Quarantine Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture, left for Chile on January 18 to participate in the tour organized by the Organization of American States (OAS) through its Department of Trade and Tourism; the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM); and the Government of Chile.
The technical cooperation activity grew out of an SPS workshop held in St. Lucia October 2008, when it was agreed that CARICOM nationals would be the beneficiaries of internships and training activities offered by Chile, a member country of the OAS.
Starrett Greene, OAS Representative in the Federation, told SKNVibes that the study tour would expose the CARICOM delegation to a range of issues critical to improving and strengthening their professional careers.
It would also provide delegates with a wealth of information that would be invaluable to their respective countries in the short, medium and long terms.
Greene explained, “While in Chile, Williams and his counterparts from other CARICOM countries will participate in a number of courses and presentations on strategic guidelines for Border Controls 2009 including information registry system, use of non-intrusive technology, quality management systems, guide preparation course, dog training and quality management systems.
“The study tour,” he added, “will also include visits to a number of cities in Chile where important government installations and facilities are located.
For example, the CARICOM technocrats and professionals will be hosted at various agricultural labs that specialize in entomology, weeds taxonomy, nematology, bacteriology, mycology and virology. Also on the intensive agenda will be visits to facilities that inspect and certify vegetable goods for export and goods for imports as well.”
Greene said the delegates will also be allowed to witness first hand inspection of passenger and aircrew luggage, as well as interception of products without official certification and X-ray equipment.
He added that before leaving Chile, the CARICOM nationals will hold a de-briefing session at the Sub-department of Border Controls which also has responsibility for International Technical Cooperation.
