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SECURITY CHAT! United States’ Secretary of Defence Robert Gates at a press conference yesterday after meeting with regional prime ministers and security ministers at the Hilton Barbados. (Picture by Kenmore Bynoe)
Published on: 4/17/2010.
by BARRY ALLEYNE
THE UNITED STATES will increase its money and its muscle to the Eastern Caribbean as the region continues to grapple with narcotics dealers.
That promise was made yesterday by Secretary of Defence of the United States, Robert Gates, minutes after completing a high-level meeting with regional governmental security leaders and members of the Regional Security System (RSS), at Hilton Barbados.
Gates, on a 36-hour first-time visit to Barbados, noted that the US would be offering the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) governments US$45 million for this financial year, and the support is scheduled to increase to US$70 million next year, pending approval from Congress.
The United States has been a steady partner to the OECS governments in the past, but according to Gates, had decreased its presence and support since the 9/11 tragedy in 2000, to strengthen homeland security against terrorist attacks.
Under a heavy veil of security, Gates met with Prime Minister David Thompson of Barbados, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerritt of Dominica, Grenada's PM Tillman Thomas, as well as ministers of national security from St Lucia, Antigua, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.
"Barbados has become a leader in efforts to improve security in the Caribbean, and I can say we just concluded another very productive meeting," the Secretary of Defence told about 15 journalists at a subsequent Press conference.
Gates said he was also quite impressed with the innovative approaches being taken by Caribbean leaders to improve security, especially their ability to marshal limited resources to face common threats.
"The United States understands the enormous challenges you (the Caribbean) face in combatting illicit drug trafficking," Gates added. "These challenges touch our shores as well, and we will confront these threats."
The US$115 million over the next 24 months will be pulled down from the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, launched last year by President Barack Obama. "That money will help us all improve maritime patrol interdiction capabilities, as well as domain awareness, and allow for joint training and additional exercises," the Secretary of Defence said.
"We stand steadfastly with you, as we pursue long-term solutions to these problems," he concluded.
The meeting was also attended by Attorney General and Minister of Home Affairs Freundel Stuart, Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxine McClean, Chief of Staff of the Barbados Defence Force, Colonel Alvin Quintyne, and regional co-ordinator of the RSS, Grantley Watson, a former Commissioner of the Royal Barbados Police Force.
Noting that regional security was one of the vital issues discussed between Caribbean governments and President Obama at last year's Summit of the Americas, Prime Minister Thompson said yesterday's meeting was a continuation of the US improving on its presence and support, especially to fight the trafficking of illegal drugs.
"We had a very critical meeting," Thompson told reporters afterwards. "Because of the proximity of the Caribbean to the United States, these issues remain critical," the PM added. "We have a shared interest, in particular stemming the flow of illegal drugs.
"We also identified areas of assistance the Government and people of the United States can make available, and to ensure these assets are used in a manner consistent with our objectives," Thompson concluded.
