Saint Lucia No. 158. Saturday, September 30 A publication of the Department of Information Services SEE PAGE 3 Senator Calixte George inister for Home Af- at major sporting events. The follow- The provision of Security Services is created this overwhelming fairs and Internal ing are excerpts from his address. to ensure the protection and safety of demand for security services MSecurity, Senator “I am very pleased to address you our citizens and visitors alike and their must of necessity be tackled Calixte George on Monday on this very important occasion which properties. within a framework of criti- delivered an address to open has brought together both private and Deviant behaviour, crime and vio- cal examination, analysis and a regional training workshop public sector offi cials from the Tour- lence also creates a higher demand for timely responsive action with on Inter American Tourism ism and Security sectors from the Ba- security services. an appreciable high level of and Recreational Facilities precision. hamas in the North to Trinidad and It is important to stress however, that Security. The workshop was Tobago in the South, and with several One may ask - How much organized by the Organi- crime must be addressed within a long- other Countries in between; to establish term development plan with signifi cant should a Police Offi cer being zation of American States requested to investigate a crime strategic alliances, exchange ideas and emphasis on social development. (OAS). In his wide ranging acquire new skills and competencies, rely on the hunches or intuition address, the Minister looked to provide more effective Security in Equally important too, is the need of citizens? Crime is complex at solutions to crime, the the Tourism and Recreational Services for a set of continuous strategic respon- and requires an equally com- importance of the tourism Sector. These Sectors have fast been sive action over the long term. prehensive response and com- sector in the economy of St. providing a livelihood to thousands The same is true whether you are in prehensive strategic action in all Lucia, short term initiatives of citizens in our respective countries, Australia, the UK, the United States or areas. Short and medium term that have been taken by the whether in the banking and insurance St. Lucia. measures will of course provide Government against crime, sectors, or in Government, the hotels, Mistakes are easy to fi nd in hind- quick immediate impact; but the handling of crime in the restaurants, taxi drivers, vendors or sight, but the task to remedy the up- will not be the solution”. Tourism Sector and security whatever else. surge in crime worldwide, which has See page 2 for other excerpt “Take 2 ” - A fi fteen minute news review of the week. Government Notebook A fresh news package daily Every Friday at 6.15 p.m. on NTN, Cablevision Channel 2. on all local radio stations 2 Saint Lucia Saturday, Setember 30, 2006 SOME INITIATIVES ON SHORT-TERM PREVENTATIVE MEASURES WITH IMMEDIATE MEDIUM AND LONG-TERM IMPACT ON CRIME Excerpt from the address by Home Affairs Minister, Hon. Calixte George, at a regional training workshop on Inter American Tourism and Recre- ational Facilities Security “In the prevention of crimes against our visitors and residents alike, some of the more profound action we have already undertaken in the short-term to deter and minimize transborder international crimes, and in particular white collar and other organized crime, and other serious crimes include the introduction of a Passenger Tracking and Watch List system, which will provide the ca- pability for our Enforcement Agencies — Police, Customs, Air and Sea Ports Authorities to monitor and facilitate active surveillance of undesirables en- tering this country. We have also recently completed extensive work in preparation for the introduction of our new machine read- able passports and the corresponding System to cover this particular process. Both of those new systems are backed up by State-Of-the Art technological engineering. The processes for the new Passenger Police Officers on Parade Tracking and Watch list System and the Machine Readable Processing Sys- stakeholders which included the Saint a more profound and effective manner, Program on the 4 of this month. tem were developed within the frame- Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association, the joint collaborative initiatives which Of great significance also, it is impor- work of the standards prescribed by the the Ministry of Tourism and the Saint will be undertaken by the Hotel and tant to note that one of the components International Community and in par- Lucia Tourist Board. Tourism sector and the Police. of our Preventive Crime Strategy in- ticular the International Civil Aviation This consultation proved to be a As part of Government’s strategic cluded a complete overhaul of the Police Authority (ICAO). particularly valuable exercise and I approach to crime fighting in the areas Recruitment and Selection Processes. As I speak, work is currently in prog- am pleased to announce that two new of prevention, abatement and detec- In essence, no longer can persons ress for the introduction of a State-Of- Units, the Tourism Related Crime tion; a deliberate policy of a yearly re- wishing to be recruited or enlisted to the-Art Automated Fingerprinting Sys- Unit the (TRCU) and the Victim Sup- cruitment of Police Officers, have been the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, tem, referred to as the (AFIS) which port Unit (VSU) are being established effected over the past nine years, to im- qualify base on who they know. will not only complement the work of before the end of this year, within the mediately provide replacement for Po- You will appreciate, distinguished la- the Criminal Investigation Department; Royal Saint Lucia Police Force to re- lice Officers who may have resigned, dies and gentlemen, that the business of but also the enforcement activities at inforce the work of the Police on the retired or may have been dismissed. Security as it relates to the functions of the borders, which will from time to prevention, abatement and detection of Over this nine year period, a total of ap- the State, and Government’s responsibil- time require fast track fingerprinting crime against our visitors, as well as proximately (500) new Police Officers ity to its citizens and visitors alike, must processes. our own citizens. have been recruited. Only last month, be a serious and non-subjective business. Shortly after my appointment as Both of these Units will undoubted- (65) new Police Recruits graduated Therefore, the protection of the lives Minister for Home Affairs and Inter- ly enhance and strengthen communica- from the Police Training Academy and of our citizens and our visitors, and their nal Security in January 2004, I held tion between the Police and the Tour- (65) more new Recruits commenced property must be conducted by persons a number of consultations with key ism and Hotel sector, and facilitate in their six month Training Recruitment of the highest level of integrity”. Des Barras Turtle Watch Aid To Body Building Association The Department of Youth and the sport on the island. Sports has lived up to its promise “In fact they are the ones who actu- Programme Under Threat to the newly elected St. Lucia Am- ally initiated the whole idea of bringing ateur Body Building Association to back resource persons from the body oachers of the leather back turtle watch programmes along with assist it in updating its affiliation turtles on the Grande Anse the Saint Lucia Heritage Programme building fraternity together to ensure fees with international and region- that this became a reality, and I must Beach are threatening the but that has since been disrupted by P al body building organizations ac- say that am very proud of their contri- livelihood of those who gain a those poachers who come onto the cumulated after the sport became bution. I know that Michael “Midget” source of income from the Des beach in search of nestling turtles. non-active for a number of years. Pierre and the Permanent Secretary, Barras Turtle Watch Programme. To compound this problem, Mr. The Department presented the as- The Department of Fisheries says Henry Mangal, have worked much in Charles says naturally the turtle pop- sociation with a five thousand dol- making that happen.” recently a number of alarming reports ulation is in grave danger of being lar cheque last week to help it fulfil Mr. Sidonie says his association has has reached the department, inform- seriously depleted once the cycle of its commitments to the interna- presented the Department of Youth and ing that turtles are being hunted and reproduction is interrupted. tional and regional organisations. destroyed at the beach, well known Sports with a copy of its strategic plan “ It creates a problem in terms of as a turtle watching attraction site. President of the Association Ed- for their perusal. He says the ministry the sustainability of that resource be- mund Sidonie has commended the However the department laments has given its commitment to assisting cause there has to be a certain level Department of Youth and Sports for some of the proposals that have been that this is not the first time such ac- of rejuvenation and that does not take its sterling support in re-energizing tivity has been brought to their atten- outlined in the document. place. We have indicated to those tion, despite regular advisories over persons who are involved in that the media to educate people on turtle Education Officials Study Career Booklet practice that it’s against the law, it’s conservation. Counsellors and teachers have been for- suited to what they do.