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Local Port Security Personnel complete capacity building training exercise
Local Port Security Personnel are now better equipped to ensure safety within the nation’s ports, given their successful completion of a capacity building training exercise hosted by the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) and the United States Coast Guard.
Yesterday, participants who were selected from various stakeholder organisations and agencies attended the closing ceremony, which took place at Regency Suites, Hadfield Street, Georgetown.
Participants from Guyana Coast Guard, Guyana Police Force, Guyana Fire Service, Ministry of Health, at yesterday’s closing exercise.
The ceremony marked the conclusion of a series of workshops/training exercises aimed at enhancing the skills of local personnel, who have been charged with responding to internal and external threats or related issues at maritime ports.
Participants included representatives from the Guyana Coast Guard, Guyana Police Force, Guyana Fire Service, Ministry of Health and personnel from various private/public ports.
Representatives of Government in attendance at the closing ceremony included Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn, US Charge d’Affaires Bryan Hunt and Chief Port Security of Maritime Safety, Captain Stephen Thomas.
“Security comes at a cost but the cost for insecurity is even greater … criminal networks are constantly looking for vulnerabilities to move people and illicit cargoes abroad the sane ships that supply the goods and resources that grow and develop our economies,” US Charge d’affaires Bryan Hunt said to a group of approximately thirty participants who were in receipt of certificates evident of their active involvement and completion of the training.
He noted that while the US Government is committed to strengthening bilateral understanding between the two countries, a reduction of shipping as a result of security related incidents could significantly impact the price of both imported and exported goods as well as negatively impact Guyana’s economic growth and harm businesses in its major trading partners in the United States.”
Hunt lauded the team for their commitment/dedication to enhancing the port security.
He further noted that the port security related workshops and seminars facilitated, over the past year by the US Coast Guard and MARAD is pivotal to guaranteeing the safety and security of ships dependant on Guyanese ports.
The US Coast Guard performed four seminars within the past years covering the facilitation of drill exercises, international auditing standards and procedures and the implementation of international maritime port security laws and regulations.
US Coast Guard Lieutenant, Steve Barry noted that the active participation of key agencies is a sign that Guyana is taking port security seriously, and sees the value in the sharing of information with a common goal of port security improvement.
“Together we’ve accomplished a lot over the past several months. We’ve explored the threats that exist within the global maritime transportation system, new ways of evaluating the management systems in place to deter and defend us from those threats, and most recently, how to coordinate and manage resources to respond in the event of an incident.”
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