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Aviation Security
CICTE Promotes Cooperation Amongst Agencies in Trinidad and Tobago to improve Air Cargo Interdiction Methods
Trinidad and Tobago, July 23-27, 2012
In conjunction with the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority, the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE) Secretariat organized a training course in Air Cargo Interdiction for 26 officials from police, airport authority, civil aviation, customs, Caribbean airlines, TT Postal Services, and other agencies with a role in cargo security in Trinidad and Tobago. The course held from July 23-27, 2012, was led by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and opened by Ramesh Lutchmedial, Director General of the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority. This dynamic mix of participants allowed for the exchange of information between agencies about specific roles in dealing with air cargo and interdiction processes in an effort to understand how they can work together to identify and intercept contraband being smuggled into the country through aircraft and cargo. Participants took part in an exercise during the course aimed at practicing the aircraft search techniques acquired through the course.
 CICTE Helps to Train Trainers in St. Kitts and Nevis to Deliver Aviation Security Courses
St. Kitts and Nevis, July 23-27, 2012
July 23rd marked the opening of the train the trainer “Instructor Skills and Design Workshop’’ organized and sponsored by the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE) Secretariat in conjunction with the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport in St. Kitts and Nevis. The Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Richard Skerritt, as well as the Commissioner of Police and National Point of Contact in St. Kitts and Nevis for CICTE, Celvin Walwyn, OAS Representative in St. Kitts and Nevis, Starret Greene, and US Transportation Security Administration Regional Representative, Loretta Mcneir all gave brief remarks highlighting the importance of investing in human capital in this field to ensure the sustainability of the knowledge and skills being taught within the country. The five-day workshop, led by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration, trained 16 security officials from various agencies such as customs, LIAT airlines, St. Christopher Air and Sea Port Authority (SCASPA), and civil aviation in delivering and developing aviation security.
The Bahamas Receives Workshop to Strengthen Their Air Cargo Interdiction Techniques
Nassau, Bahamas July 30-August 3, 2012
In conjunction with the Airport Authority of The Bahamas, the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE) Secretariat organized a training course in Air Cargo Interdiction in Nassau, Bahamas from July 30-August 3, 2012. The workshop trained 26 officials from the airport authority; civil aviation; customs and immigration departments; mail carriers: DHL, FEDEX, United Parcel Services and GWS Worldwide Express; airlines: Bahamasair and Delta Airlines; Royal Bahamas Police Force and Nassau Flight Services. The course led by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) intends to assist officials from the various participating agencies with the skills needed to intercept contraband being smuggled into the country by using aircraft and cargo.
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Port Security Training in Mexico
Salina Cruz, Mexico from July 10-24, 2012
Port security course was conducted and reached out to 253 officials. This training was developed based on the specific needs of port stakeholders as a value-added in order to strengthen them in protection issues. The training program, endorsed by the OAS, courses included Crisis Management, Intrusive inspections, responses to radiological threats, training in the Incident System and Contingency Plans, and a Cabinet exercise a day. The exercise scenario involved an incident at an LNG ship Pemex terminal in accordance with the recommendations of the Port Authority and other port stakeholders.
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 Immigrations and Customs
Third Party Evaluator Emphasizes Importance of Multiplier Effect in Border Controls Program
To continue improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the ongoing OAS-Capacity Building Project on Border Controls designed to help strengthen border security in member states, two key programs were evaluated by an independent expert from May 15 to July 20, 2012. The formal evaluation, funded by the Government of Canada, assessed the overall impact of the workshops carried out in Jamaica from February 28 to March 4, 2011 and in Saint Lucia from January 23 to 27, 2012.
The evaluator traveled to each country to meet with key stakeholders and former participants to establish first-hand how the knowledge and skills learned during the workshops have been put to use and, based on his findings, make recommendations for the future phases of the project or for other similar projects of the OAS.
The final report noted that the two specialized programs on immigration and customs controls contributed to improving the knowledge and practices of the officials and supervisors trained, and that these OAS workshops provided “opportunities to border control officers to have access to international level standards in a very concentrated period of time.” However, the report also highlighted that “to have a real impact on the issue of border controls in these two countries more frequent and intense training would be required.” In addition, the evaluation recommended that future programs consider a broader institutional approach that includes a “train-the-trainer methodology.” This approach of training officials to pass knowledge and skills to colleagues will ensure a multiplier effect that will enhance the overall impact of each workshop.
The results of the formal evaluation will be disseminated to the donor, the beneficiary countries and the three entities that created and delivered the workshops, the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE), the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) and the Department of Public Security (DPS).
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Cyber Security
Regional Workshop on Best Practices on Cyber Security and Cyber Crime
Montevideo, Uruguay, July 10-13, 2012
The event was held in partnership with the Cyber Crime Working Group of the REMJA Process, the United States Departments of Justice and State, and the Uruguayan Agency for Electronic Government. Divided into three specialized tracks, the workshop convened delegations consisting of cyber security policy makers, technical level cyber security incident responders, and cyber crime investigators and prosecutors.
The first track focused on developing national cyber security policies, and included presentations and discussions on such topics as securing critical infrastructure and industrial control systems from cyber threats and collaboration on cyber issues between the public and private sectors and civil society.
The second track was conducted by REMJA and the United States Department of Justice. Instructional modules were led by cyber crime experts from USDOJ as well as the Department of Homeland Security Cyber Crimes Center.
To complement the policy and investigative portions of the workshop, a TRANSITS-II technical cyber security incident handling course was also carried out as the last of the three tracks.
Officials from the three distinct but mutually dependable areas of cyber security and cybercrime reported that as a result of the workshop, they had a better understanding of the roles and work done by their counterparts within their same governments and in neighboring countries.
For more information on the Cyber Security Program
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Tourism Security
The OAS and the Mexican Government Inaugurate Course on Tourism Security in Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya
The Organization of American States (OAS) through the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE) Secretariat and the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development, with support of the Mexican Government, implemented a Course on Tourism Security in Playa del Carmen-Riviera Maya. The course was carried out in conjunction with the Government of the state of Quintana Roo, with the assistance of some fifty security managers from the hotel sector, and municipal, state and federal employees in charged of tourism security.
The inaugural ceremony was presided by the Governor of the state of Quintana Roo, Roberto Borge Angulo, the Ambassador of Canada in Mexico, Sara Hradecky, and the OAS Executive Secretary for Integral Development, Jorge Saggiante, among other representatives of the public sector and the Hotel Association of the Riviera Maya.
The OAS representative underscored the importance of tourism, not only as a springboard for development and employment strengthening, but also as a means to overcome poverty that affects 30% of the population in the hemisphere and as a factor of development and of income redistribution. He noted that annually close to 160 million tourists visit the 34 member countries of the OAS, representing 9% of the revenue of the regional GDP.
The OAS representative added that these forums allow dialogue between the private and public sectors in order to find common ground and ways to collaborate for building democratic governance in the member countries of the OAS.
The Tourism Security program of the OAS is financed by the Government of Canada and seeks to promote public-private ties in the area of tourism security. This program has been carried out in some of the most important touristic destinations of the Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico.
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