Sesiones

Sesiones

Reunión de Expertos en Turismo y facilidades Recreativas

In 2005, the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE) began developing a program of technical support for the tourism and major events sectors. This program was executed as a Pilot Project between 2006 and 2007, utilizing the Caribbean countries that would host the ICC-CWC (International Cricket Council – Cricket World Cup) in March 2007 as the sample area. At the end of the project, CICTE requested that the Secretariat convene a Meeting of Experts to evaluate the results and make recommendations on the future scope and applicability of the program.

The Meeting of Experts was held on March 4, 2008 and chaired by Ambassador Aristides Royo, Permanent Representative of Panama to the Organization of American States and Chair of the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism CICTE (2007-2008). Representatives of the following Member States were in attendance: Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Chile, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, St. Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela.

In opening remarks, OAS Assistant Secretary General Ambassador Albert Ramdin noted that crime and violence are an increasing challenge for Member States and that terrorism is part of that challenge. He reiterated the General Secretariat’s commitment to assist the Member States in meeting these challenges through technical and capacity-building programs based principally on their realities and needs.

Senator Martin Joseph, Minister of National Security, Trinidad and Tobago and former Chair of CICTE (2005-2006), reviewed the history and concept of the Pilot Project. Colonel Anthony Anderson, Commander of Operations of the COPACS (CARICOM Operations Planning and Coordination Staff), then discussed the impact of the training under the Pilot Project from the Regional perspective. Dr. Carol Fuller, Secretary of CICTE, then reported on the Execution and Results of the Pilot Project.

Two Member States who were participants in the project, Barbados and St. Kitts and Nevis gave presentations on the impact of the project to their countries. Also two private sector firms, Atlantis Resort (Bahamas) and Jamaica Pegasus Hotel (Jamaica) also presented their perspectives on the training and the impact the training had on their establishments.

At the end of the day’s proceedings, the experts recommended that CICTE “… continue providing technical assistance and capacity-building to Member States, as appropriate, on the security of tourism and recreational facilities, taking into account the results of the Pilot Project and the Specific realities and needs of the tourism sector in the Member States.”

This recommendation is the successful culmination of three years’ work of the Secretariat and allows for continued support to the Member States in this vital and growing area. Detailed copies of the report from the meeting and other documents will be available on the CICTE website (www.cicte.oas.org) under Events/Meeting of Experts.

Para mayor información, contactar a Javier Montes