PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Trinidad and Tobago has installed and activated a 360 degree radar surveillance system to counter the illegal trafficking of drugs, arms and ammunition in the country.
Addressing the Conference of the Caribbean in Washington DC in June, 2007, Prime Minister Patrick Manning expressed concern about Caribbean security and competitiveness in the global environment. He also voiced concern about threats posed by global pandemics, natural disasters, narcotics trade and breaches of internet security.
Prime Minister Manning revealed that government proposes to improve the system to provide coverage to Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and St. Lucia, with the hope that the domestic operations will also be expanded to include Offshore Patrol Vessels, Fast Petrol Craft, Interceptors and armed helicopters to complement the radar surveillance system, with an interdiction capability.
The Prime Minister said, In the current scenario of escalating crime across the hemisphere, CARICOM heads of Government have now declared security as the Fourth Pillar on which to jointly pursue the development and progress of our region. The other three Pillars are Foreign Policy, Trade and Economic Development and Functional Co-operation.
In the past three years, CARICOM and the United States of America have engaged in bilateral discussions and cooperation on the issues of border security, maritime security, airport and port security, tourism security, counter-terrorism, disaster response and health security in an effort to respond to community threats.
Trinidad and Tobagos initiatives towards political, legal and judicial, police and prison reforms, greater citizens participation, and the reduction of poverty and inequality are being engaged to increase security and enhance democracy.
