SIX representatives of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) joined eight members of the Suriname Security Sector yesterday, to learn skills for determining and targeting potential threats to their country’s ports.

The course, which opened at Grand Coastal Inn, Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara, is part of the Guyana Ministry of Home Affairs Container Control Programme (CCP).
Speaking at the forum, Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Clement Rohee acknowledged that one of the main challenges facing the international trading system is the security hazard to the global supply trade and this spans all movement and storage of raw materials and finished goods from point of origin to the point of consumption.
He added that measures are continuously being implemented to improve trust and collaboration among supply chain partners, thus improving inventory visibility and the velocity of movement, strategic partnerships between States, international institutions, suppliers, distributors and customers are necessary to fend off the rapidly increasing ills that affect the global trading system.
Rohee pointed out that security of the system depends increasingly on the ability it takes to handle threats from transnational criminal syndicates and one of those great threats result from the scale of the ability of seaport cargo containers. Global commerce is totally dependent on the shipping of containers which carry by far the largest percentage of the world’s cargo in terms of international value.
The Minister stated that, domestically, thousands of full cargo containers move in and out of Guyana’s seaports and containers transit the country daily on trucks, ships and barges, which can transport drugs, arms and illicit cargo.

TARGETED
Rohee admitted that only a small number of containers are subjected to in-depth security checks and inspection and, although drugs are not produced locally, Guyana is targeted by criminal gangs as a transshipment point for narcotics destined for the lucrative North American and European markets.
United States (U.S.) Deputy Chief of Mission, Mr. Thomas Pierce said the Americans support a wide array of counter-narcotics activities through the Embassy and regionally from Washington, under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI).
He said the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement mission is focused on lessening the impact of the illegal drug trade and international crime through global partnerships.
Pierce noted that Guyana and Suriname are the first two Caribbean countries to join the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) CCP, showing the commitment that the two governments have to meet regional and national goals of combating illicit trafficking in narcotics and improving port security throughout the region.
He stated that the illicit trafficking of drugs through sea ports is a significant threat to the economies and security and the global drug trade weakens legal trade, distorts and destabilises economies and facilitates corruption and erodes democratic governance.

COMMITTED
“This is why the U.S., together with partners in the region, is so committed to combating the narcotics trade,” Pierce said.
He said the U.S. Government is pleased to provide funding for this important UNODC initiative to increase port security and prevent lawful maritime cargo containers from being used for unlawful activities, specifically illicit drug trafficking, chemical precursors, smuggling of goods, tax evasion and potential terrorist actions.
“We recognise that we are all partners in this fight and congratulate Guyana and Suriname for being the first ones in the region to begin to develop a global network that builds the capacity for our respective law enforcement bodies to combat transnational crime and drug trade through this initiative,” Pierce said.
He disclosed that the Caribbean has become increasingly vulnerable to the illicit flow of narcotics as enforcement efforts in the Central and Latin America have driven traffickers to find new methods and routes.
Pierce said drug trafficking and related violence poses a significant risk to the safety and security of the people of the region and, as evidenced by increased violence in Central America and elsewhere in the region, problems posed by illicit trafficking and related criminal activities cannot be viewed as a detached, distant problem of others.
He reiterated that the U.S. stands committed to supporting neighbours and UN member States in preventing and eradicating the corrosive drug trade through Caribbean ports and waters.
Pierce said this training will make the course participants key players in Guyana and Suriname’s efforts to improve port security and prevent lawful maritime cargo containers from being used for unlawful activities.
He said the Guyana and Suriname collaboration to combat illicit drug trafficking and other transnational crimes will help the region as a whole to continue building the Caribbean’s capability to disrupt the use of the international maritime supply chain for illegal purposes.

FIRST
CCP Regional Manager, Mr. Troels Vestor said it is the first basic training procedure between Guyana and Suriname after the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed in August.
He said the first week of the process will take place in Guyana while the second week would be in Suriname and congratulated both countries for taking such a step after their first contact in May.
Vestor said it is extraordinary that, after five weeks, a training course can
take place and, on October 15, the CCP will be operational in both Guyana and Suriname.
He told the gathering that the CCP will fight the new modus operandi while dealing with the rivers issue after the two units become fully equipped following the training course.
Vestor thanked the U.S. Government for the part it played in providing funding for such an undertaking.