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OAS in Trinidad and Tobago Calls on Ministers of Public Security in the Americas to Debate Police Management in the Hemisphere

The Organization of American States (OAS) and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago will hold on November 17 and 18 in Port of Spain the Third Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Public Security in the Americas (MISPA III), as part of the preparatory events for the Sixth Summit of the Americas, to be held in April 2012 in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia.

The meeting will focus discussions on the topic of police management as a key factor for progress in achieving better security for the citizens of the Americas.

During the two-day meeting, the high-level authorities will seek to build on three major areas: Modernizing police institutions within a democratic framework; supporting police professionalization and training; and strengthening cooperation on police information systems and enhanced use of technology. The ministerial meeting will conclude with recommendations on the issue of police management and the adoption of the Document of Port of Spain.

The OAS Secretary General, José Miguel Insulza, said recently that MISPA meetings "have been placing increasing emphasis on aspects related to the coordination of criminal justice, in full awareness that we add capacity for prevention and interdiction if we work together.” These permanent bodies of discussion and agreements allow authorities responsible for law enforcement and public safety management to identify the roots of the phenomenon of crime and violence in the Hemisphere and generate consensus and coordinated action to face it,” he stated.

The opening ceremony will feature the participation of the OAS Secretary General, José Miguel Insulza, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, and the Minister of National Security, Brigadier John Sandy. The following authorities have also confirmed their attendance: Rodrigo Hinzpeter, Minister of Interior of Chile, Eduardo Bonomi, Minister of Interior of Uruguay, Eric J. Holder Jr, U.S. Attorney General, Joseph Thomas Tillman, Minister of National Security of Grenada, Homero Arellano Lascano, Minister for Coordination of Internal and External Security of Ecuador, Jose Ramon Fadul, Ministry of Interior and Police of the Dominican Republic; Douglas Singh, Minister of Police and Public Safety of Belize, and Sam Condor, Minister of National Security of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

The Third Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Public Security in the Americas will give an opportunity to leaders in police management to present their experiences and conduct a dialogue with other States. Through this dialogue, the highest authorities of the hemisphere share knowledge and experiences, exchange information and strengthen cooperation mechanisms in the fight against crime and criminality. MISPA I was held in Mexico City in October 2008, and a second meeting took place in Santo Domingo in November 2009.

The event's agenda is available here.

More information about MISPA III is available here.

WHAT: Third Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Public Security in the Americas (MISPA III)

WHEN: November 17 and 18, 2011

WHERE: Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Hyatt Regency Hotel

Reference: E-946/11