The EU Ambassador to the Eastern Caribbean, H.E. Malgorzata Wasilewska on Friday closed a weeklong regional course dedicated to members of Maritime Intelligence Units of the region.
Organised by the EU-funded project SEACOP in Barbados, the course was attended by 15 law enforcement personnel from nine different agencies in Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Montserrat and St Vincent. It marked the continuous collaboration between SEACOP and the governments of the region to fight against illicit maritime trade in the region.
For his part, Dominique Bucas, SEACOP Project Director, commended the success of the regional course, highlighting the diversity of participating countries and the encouraging participation of 6 female officials. “This is a clear embodiment of SEACOP’s commitment to gender mainstreaming and to the improvement of law enforcement agencies’ capacities to help combat stereotypes and discrimination.”
The regional course was delivered by experts from French Customs and UK’s National Crime Agency, following a National Steering Committee held on Thursday 19th of May in the presence of Dominique Bucas and SEACOP Regional Coordinator to the Caribbean, Karen Clarke.
“We are proud to have held this very first steering committee with our Barbadian partners, who expressed their strong commitment to combat drug trafficking and other traffics perpetrated by organised criminal groups in Barbados and the region,” Dominique Bucas stated, adding “Barbados and SEACOP have been crucial partners in this endeavour for the past 7 years.”
Chaired by the Ministry of National Security, the committee gave SEACOP representatives the opportunity to meet with a number of local stakeholders and partners including AIRCOP, Barbados Defence Force and the Regional Security System.
