National Security Minister Martin Joseph made the disclosure yesterday, while delivering the feature address at the opening ceremony of a workshop meant to advance the development of a regional security plan for the CWC being held this week at the Cascadia Hotel in St Ann's.

Nine Caricom member states, including Trinidad and Tobago, will be hosting the CWC and this week's workshop is meant to fine tune a security plan approved by the Caricom Heads of Government Conference at their 27th meeting held from July 3-6 in St Kitts and Nevis.

Joseph is the chairman of the Caricom council of ministers responsible for national security and law enforcement.

"In Trinidad and Tobago, we have fully recognised the value of this kind of collaboration and our domestic measures against crime have now taken on a multinational, multi-disciplinary face with the United Kingdom, the United States and other friendly partners working in practical relationship with our law enforcement," Joseph said.

"Specifically as it relates to CWC, we have taken definite steps to establish a framework to enable our international partners to join with regional personnel in the planning and implementation of the security arrangements at the level of intelligence as well as operations."

The workshop is being attended by several high-ranking regional and international security officials, including Caricom Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) executive director, Lance Selman, and Overall Operations Commander, Colonel Tony Anderson, of the Jamaica Defence Force.

South Africa Deputy Commissioner of Police, Andre Pruis, is leading a four-member Interpol team who are also attending the workshop.

Pruis was in charge of security operations for CWC 2003 and is currently responsible for operational services in the staging of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

"Indeed, this workshop is a direct outcome of an initial meeting held in Barbados in July this year, which brought together representatives of participating countries and other significant international partners and organisations," Joseph said.

"The result is that over the next week, national planners from member states will be work along with international partners, including the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States and Interpol."

Joseph noted that the CWC would act as a catalyst for the early construction of a regional platform for law enforcement and security that is required for the success of the Caricom Single Market and Economy. The Caricom Single Market was launched on January 30, 2006.

Source: Juhel Browne, Trinidad Express
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