Acting Head of the National Security Service of Sint Maarten Mr. Jerome Beeldsnijder, represented Sint Maarten on behalf of the Ministry of Justice at the 8th US-Caribbean Security Cooperation Dialogue held in Washington DC last week on Thursday May 16th.
The Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) and CARICOM IMPACS (Implementing Agency for Crime and Security) the security directorate for CARICOM were the two main topics during the event. Other topics of interest discussed in relation to National Security and security awareness were;
• Cyber and Cybersecurity Issues
• Telecommunications Issues
• Digital media and Crime
• Countering Violent Extremism / Social Media
• Border security & Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS)
• Regional Cooperation
• Information Sharing
• Maritime Interdiction
• Emerging Threats
• Trends & Best Practices
The main outcome of the eighth US-Caribbean security cooperation dialogue was to financially empower CARICOM IMPACS and to have them enhance the (cyber) security awareness in countries governments and societies.
Below is a short excerpt of the final agreement; that is also available online https://www.state.gov/caribbean-united-states-security-cooperation-dialogue/
“We, the Governments of the Caribbean States and the United States of America have gathered in Washington, D.C., on the Tenth (10th) Anniversary of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), hereby REAFFIRM the CBSI Partnership launched on April 17, 2009 at the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago.
AGREE to the enhanced CBSI objectives of reducing illicit trafficking, increasing safety and security, and preventing youth crime and violence.
DEEPEN the coordination, cooperation and sustainability of our joint efforts among the United States of America, Caribbean States, and international partners to more effectively address the security challenges in the Caribbean and ensure the monitoring and evaluation of program implementation for effective results;
REAFFIRM the commitments and outcomes of the Ministerial on the U.S. Caribbean Resilience Partnership held in Miami on April 12, 2019 and the continued cooperation on disaster preparedness and resilience.”
The countries pledged to continue to advance critical efforts aimed at increasing the security and safety of their respective citizens, reduction in illicit trafficking, prevention of youth crime and violence. Additionally the aim is to establish a stronger security partnership for the future.