|
|
| ST.
KITTS HOSTS REGIONAL ANTI-TERRORISM WORKSHOP |
| By Sheena
Brooks |
| |
A number
of regional security officials converged on St. Kitts
earlier this week for a sub-regional workshop conducted
by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
for all Caribbean nations. The workshop, which ran from
July7-9, was held at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort and
was jointly facilitated by experts from the Inter-American
Counter Terrorism Committee (CICTE) and the Organization
of American States (OAS) office in Washington DC and
the United Nation.
Astona Browne, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of
National Security said on the opening day that limited
resources should not prevent the region from doing its
part to counter terrorism.
“We are aware of our limited resources as small
islands can sometimes hamper our ability to fulfill
our obligations in certain areas. Our shortcomings in
the area of legislative capacity, our crime detection
capabilities using the modern technology must never
be construed however as a lack of commitment. We are
fully cognizant of our own vulnerability not only by
our size, but by our own geography and our location.
The porous natures of our borders also pose a threat
to us. With the increase in global trans-national organized
criminal activities we must ensure that our approach
to trans-global terrorism is impactful.”
She also informed that improve capacity of the region
to impact the overall global security mechanism will
be a priority as member states stand ready to mobilize
their resources in the international campaign against
terrorism. It is against this backdrop that some 20
participants would be trained to prepare responses dealing
with counter-terrorism.
Following the important workshop, a document would be
filed with the United Nations’ Security Council
Committee that reflects cumulative ideas regarding the
implementation and reporting obligations relevant to
Security Council Resolutions. The training would also
provide them the necessary assistance to boost their
respective legislative capacity in the area of anti-terrorism. |
| |
|
|
|
