Minister of National Security received Maritime Security search and seizure training equipment form Canada and the United Nations Office on drugs and crime.
On Wednesday May 24, 2023, Minister of National Security, Fitzgerald Hinds received on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, a donation of Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) Kit and Equipment, as well as Consumables for Capital Assets of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF), from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) working in collaboration with the Government of Canada.
Presenting the equipment at a Handover Ceremony held at the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard Headquarters, Staubles Bay in Chaguaramas were High Commissioner of Canada to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, His Excellency Arif Keshani and Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Program Officer of the UNODC, Ms. Josefina Otero.
The donated items comprising operational gear, tactical equipment and spare parts consumables for capital assets, will support training exercises for members of the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG) geared towards bolstering maritime search and seizure operations. Items include tactical vests, helmets, handheld metal detectors, radio communication devices, protective hearing apparatus, as well as consumables for the maintenance of TTCG vessels.
Speaking at the event, Minister Hinds thanked the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Government of Canada, through the Anti-Crime and Capacity Building Programme from Global Affairs Canada, for facilitating the donation. He underscored Government’s commitment to ongoing security initiatives with both Canada and the UNODC, and welcomed expanded areas of collaboration, especially in the area of capacity enhancement for law enforcement officials.
The Minister noted that “in the area of capacity development of our law enforcement officers, including Defence Force personnel, the Ministry of National Security is pursuing new and innovative areas for international defence and security cooperation, which will improve the career experience of our military personnel and enhance their professional development opportunities. This international cooperation agenda is being pursued with all of our international partners, including Canada and the UNODC”. This, the Minister said, would redound to up-skilling and professionalization opportunities, as well as joint learning and joint operations platforms.