Organization of American States
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Agency News                           

February 28, 2002

 

OAS DEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND CIVIL AVIATION ORGANIZATION TO COOPERATE ON AVIATION PROJECTS IN THE CARIBBEAN

 

The Inter-American Agency for Cooperation and Development (IACD) will work with the Canadian-based International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to develop projects designed to improve the civil aviation system in the Caribbean region. 

The IACD, the development agency of the Organization of American States (OAS), will work with the ICAO to identify projects and prepare feasibility and investment studies on a range of projects related to aviation security, infrastructure development and the management of regulatory systems. The two agencies signed a letter of understanding outlining the scope of their cooperation on February 14. 

            The parties agreed on an initial plan of action that includes the following activities:

·         Seminars in the Eastern Caribbean region -- These seminars will focus on training personnel in airport security.

·         Creation of a subregional authority -- This entity would oversee the operational security of civil aviation in the Caribbean.

·         Creation of training centers -- Several countries in the Caribbean have expressed interest in establishing TRAINAIR centers to prepare security personnel. 

In addition to these Caribbean initiatives, the IACD-ICAO partnership will explore ways to strengthen the Center for Aeronautical Studies in Colombia by improving training, adding equipment and making improvements in its installations. This center offers aviation instruction to personnel from South America, Central America and the Caribbean. 

The IACD, which was established in 1999, promotes technical cooperation and training programs to accelerate economic development in the countries of the hemisphere. The Agency has a mandate to find new ways to use the experience, technology and resources of the private sector and to support governments in their efforts to eliminate poverty. 

The ICAO was originally founded to promote the safe and secure development of civil aviation. One of the oldest members of the United Nations system, it is known for its role in regulation civil aviation throughout the world. In the last four decades, it has undertaken many technical cooperation programs to support states in their efforts to improve civil aviation.

 

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