The Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr Terrance Drew, along with the Governor General of St Kitts and Nevis, Dame Marcella Liburd GCMG, JP, have taken part in the United States Independence celebrations at the Embassy of US in Barbados on Friday.
It is to be noted that, PM Drew held meeting with Linda Talialatela, Ambassador of the United States to Barbados, and the Eastern Caribbean & several other high-level officials to hold discussion on the national and regional security matters.
The talks during the meeting were around the continued collaboration with the Regional Security System (RSS) on topics of national security including on-boarding a vetted team and the continued efforts between the islands for addressing the porosity of the borders, and recently passed laws within the US to disrupt the firearms trafficking within the Caribbean region by interdicting illicit shipment of the firearms and ammunition, holding the offenders accountable, and bringing them to justice.
Moreover, Ambassador said that, “She believes this is a measure in the right direction for addressing the gun trafficking in the region.”
Also discussed were available training opportunities in several areas of National Security, including but not limited to, the Customs and Excise Department for enhancing their National Security, revenue collection abilities and keeping the operations systems within the department current with those used regionally and internationally, along with collaborations with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS).
At the same time, PM Drew shared words about his role as the new Chairman of the Organization of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). He mentioned about the launching of the Opportunities to Advance and Support Youth for Success (OASYS) Project, a partnership between the OECS Commission, USAID, along with other government and non-government stakeholders, which focuses “on increasing
Prime Minister Drew spoke about his role as the new Chairman of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). He noted the launch of the Opportunities to Advance and Support Youth for Success (OASYS) Project, a partnership between the OECS Commission, USAID, and other government and non-government stakeholders, that focuses “on increasing the diversion of youth away from courts and custodial sentences, supporting rehabilitation centers and diversion programs to use evidence-based diagnoses and treatment and facilitating the reintegration of youth leaving rehabilitation facilities into their families and communities”.
Dr. Drew noted that “this is just one of the ways that we can continue to collaborate; to support these programmes and the role that they can play in our efforts to divert youth from lives of crime, gang membership, and violence”.
At the end of discussions both parties agreed that more collaboration will ensue on other cooperative programmes addressing our social development mandates within Saint Kitts and Nevis and the wider Caribbean region.
