Government Information Service

by Emmanuel H. Joseph
Government Information Service

The Government of Dominica, in keeping with its obligations under the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention and its security related duties under chapter eleven of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code, is actively reviewing its compliance measures for all the port facilities and terminals on the island.

As a result, the Dominica Marine Administration in association with Quality Management International Incorporated commenced a three-day training course for Port Facility Security Officers at the Roseau Fisheries Complex on Tuesday, 19th January, 2010. The aim of the training exercise is to educate and update individuals on the criteria of the ISPS code and other measures relating to port security.

Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Utilities, Lucien Blackmoore, said at the opening ceremony that programme goes beyond the boundaries of port officers and exhorted participants to take the programme very seriously.

“From taking a quick review of the programme, I must say that the programme transcends the shorelines. It certainly goes beyond the boundaries of the boardroom. As a matter of fact, it takes into consideration the country’s entire development because you have issues of safety, quality systems, and environmental concerns as well as security issues. That, in itself, is far beyond the question of maritime safety and the whole security issue.

Therefore, I really want to appeal to you participants to take this programme very seriously. I know for sure that it is going to have very significant benefits for you not only in terms of your job as Vehicle Security Officers and Customs Security Officers and to those of you who not of the security line of officers. I see it going beyond your day to day direct line of engagement giving you the added resources and capabilities that you need to make you much more effective security officers.”

The Acting Permanent Secretary went on to say that Government remains committed to ensure that Dominica becomes compliant with the standards enshrined in the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Convention.

“The Government of Dominica takes it commitment to the whole ISPS Convention and its commitment and obligation under here to ensure that we do everything that is feasible within our necessary means and capabilities to ensure that everyone within the island gets due compliance where all the operations are concerned.

We are not just talking about the issues on the terminal facility in itself but even those of you who have to go on to the vessels who are the vessels security officers. You will be adequately trained and equipped with emerging technologies, the emerging know how’s and new thinking so that you will understand, by the very complex nature of the emerging technologies today, that the challenges that you are faced with is very broad. The issue of threats, the issue of terrorism, the issue of the whole question of sea robbery (piracy), these are very real situations.”

The training is being facilitated by an expert from Quality Management International Inc., Captain Inderjit Arora. In giving his brief remarks, he stressed that security cannot be over emphasised as it is paramount to ensuring that the tourism industry, that so many small island states have come to depend on, continue to grow.

“Today, we cannot just say safety or involvement unless we keep ourselves secure. We will lose business. The bottom line is going to be affected by security if we are vulnerable, then those who feel insecure will not come to us. This matters especially to small island states where our economies depend to an extent. It does matter that these cruise ships keep coming and they feel safe and secure in your waters. That is very important and it is my intent that I will contribute in this course to an extent to the best of my knowledge.”

The training is expected to run for three (3) days.