CARICOM Security’s gratuities remain in arrears: Director reveals at Launch of U.S. Government-Sponsored Border Security Training

by AirBourne / July 22nd, 2012

First of all, I wish to thank the Adviocate’s reporter for being so unmannerly and territorial while interviewing Captain Michael Jones of IMPACS – the Implementation Agency for Crime and Security, this allowed me and the Nation’s journalist to get a better and more detailed story than if she had brought-upsy and simply allowed us to share in on the interview from the get-go…

Ambassador Palmer at the Savannah hotel in Christ Church, addressing IMPACS officers on the significance of APIS

Over the ensuing fortnight, a training programme in the Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS) will be held at the Savannah Hotel, this is an advance warning computer initiative which allows the ten members of IMPACS; the Implementation Agency for Crime & Security to track “persons of interest” as they move through the West Indies {CLICK ON FOLLOWING LINK FOR FULL AUDIO};-

While a person may not be on a Most Wanted list nor have a criminal record, nevertheless, IMPACS and other agencies may wish to trace the movements of certain personalities and the new technology makes this easier.

Bajan Reporter & Nation actually cooperating and learning from IMPACS director, while Advocate’s “Star Reporter” already flew the coop and missed the scoop!

The director told Bajan Reporter although the US Embassy sponsored programme is created for the ten signatories of IMPACS, all Caribbean territories are kept abreast even with non-signatories {CLICK ON FOLLOWING LINK FOR FULL AUDIO};-

Dominica is a member, although not in possession of the full APIS while St Maarten is not a member, nevertheless, if the data applies to their territory, they will still be informed as overall integrity must be maintained…

The director of IMPACS, Capt Jones, is a Barbadian, he explains how wages while up to date nevertheless certain allowances are not as current {CLICK ON FOLLOWING LINK FOR FULL AUDIO};-

The budget of $6.5 million USD while current does not handle previous gratuities which remain outstanding.

The Captain also is grateful to the ten signatories for making sure that contributions for the CARICOM branch were not in arrears.

Some of the course’s correspondents paying close attention to Capt Jones’ remarks

The course, which is being implemented through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, will train immigrations and customs officials from ten Caribbean countries in how to use APIS. The IMPACS director also pledges that Security and Police from each member will be on par with what IMPACS does unlike what obtained during Cricket World Cup 2007 when certain islands felt sidelined in the face of IMPACS toughening measures {CLICK ON FOLLOWING LINK FOR FULL AUDIO};-

The director reassured such an incident as alluded to from CWC 2007 is now a thing of the past, since IMPACS holds regular meetings with all relevant committees of all ten members.

The training is being conducted with the assistance of the Joint Regional Communications Centre of the regional security agency, CARICOM IMPACS. US Ambassador Larry L. Palmer also urged for full cooperation during the seminar {CLICK ON FOLLOWING LINK FOR FULL AUDIO};-

The American envoy saw it as a matter of vital success for participants to coordinate and share information with immigration and customs colleagues from around the region during this training and especially after the training’s completed. He suggested they get to know colleagues from the other islands, ask questions, share your experiences. At the end of these two weeks, they’d be wiser and more connected.

It’s a pity the Advocate reporter missed those Sesame Street lessons on Cooperation, eh? She missed out on a great story by being like another Muppet – Miss Piggy!