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ENHANCING SECURITY COORDINATION FOR SPORTING EVENTS IN THE C’BEAN

Mrs. H.E. Lilian Chatterjee, Canada’s High Commissioner delivered the Keynote address

High Commissioner to Canada in Barbados, Mrs. H.E. Lilian Chatterjee, delivered a keynote address at the opening of a sub-regional technical meeting focused on Enhancing Security Coordination for Sporting Events in the Caribbean, with special emphasis on the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup this morning. The speech highlighted the crucial role of international cooperation in safeguarding major sporting events and ensuring the safety of participants and spectators.

In her address, High Commissioner Chatterjee expressed her pleasure in inaugurating the important gathering of technical experts, emphasizing the significance of sports in nation-building and fostering identity on national and regional levels. She underscored the economic, social, and cultural contributions of major sporting events, noting their potential for economic growth, social cohesion, and intercultural understanding.

With the approaching ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, High Commissioner Chatterjee stressed the need to step up vigilance and enhance security measures against various threats, including those from terrorist groups, criminal organizations, and natural disasters. She emphasized the importance of coordinated security efforts and effective cooperation among the seven co-hosting OAS Member States to ensure a safe and secure environment for all stakeholders.

She commended the collaborative efforts of the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism of the Organization of American States (OAS-CICTE) and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), in enhancing regional preparedness and resilience practices. She acknowledged the longstanding support of the Government of Canada in funding comprehensive regional programs and national strategies aimed at protecting crowded spaces.

The speech also highlighted ongoing activities promoting a secure Caribbean, including Exercise Tradewinds, a multi-dimensional military training exercise focused on improving interoperability and response capabilities. High Commissioner Chatterjee noted Canada’s continued participation and contribution to such exercises, emphasizing the importance of working together to support OAS Member States in ensuring the security and safety of major sporting events.

She expressed optimism about the collaborative efforts and emphasized the importance of effective cooperation in safeguarding major sporting events, echoing the sentiment that together, stakeholders can act as effective “wicket keepers” ensuring a successful and secure ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

CICTE

The CICTE Security in Crowded Spaces program has more than 15 years of experience in the application of regional programs and national strategies aimed at improving the capacity of OAS Member States in the design and effective implementation of integrated security plans for the protection of crowded spaces and vulnerable targets, such as major events and/or tourism destinations. (PR)

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FAREWELL TO STATESMAN ‘SIR SHRIDATH RAMPHAL

President Dr Irfaan Ali hailed the late Sir Shridath Surendranath Ramphal as one of Guyana’s architects, who helped shape the country’s legal framework, fashioning its constitution, and defending its territorial integrity.

During a National Funeral of Honour held at the Promenade Gardens, the Head of State praised the late “statesman” for his stellar contributions to the country, region and the Commonwealth.

*Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Ralph Gonsalves*

“His life and legacy stand as a testimonial, not only to his brilliance as a legal eagle, statesman and diplomat but also to his undeniable dedication to the land of his birth, Guyana.”

After the funeral service, Sir Ramphals’s ashes were interned at the Seven Ponds in the Botanical Gardens in Georgetown.

Chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Prime Minister of Grenada, Dickon Mitchell; Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves; Prime Minister of Guyana, Brigadier Mark Phillips; CARICOM Secretary General, Dr Carla Barnett and past and present regional and local government officials were also at the event.

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AFERXIMBANK CONFERENCE BEING HELD IN THE BAHAMAS

NASSAU: American actress Viola Davis is in The Bahamas for the Afreximbank Annual Meeting, where a signing ceremony took place Connecting Global Africa with the tools to make a difference.

Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper greets Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley who is in The Bahamas for the Afreximbank Annual Meeting being hosted in The Bahamas.

Regional

President of Malawi cancels trip to the Bahamas following Vice President’s plane crash

Malawi President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera has canceled his upcoming visit to the Bahamas due to a severe aviation incident involving Vice President Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima.

The plane, which was also carrying nine other individuals, crash-landed in the Chikangawa forest this Monday, prompting immediate national concern.

Scheduled international engagements impacted

President Chakwera was slated to participate in the 31st African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) annual meeting and the Afri-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum in Nassau from June 12-14.

This event is expected to host over a thousand delegates, including leaders and officials from both Africa and the Caribbean, along with prominent figures from various sectors such as banking and academia.

The forum marks a historic occasion as it is the first Afreximbank annual meeting to be held in the Caribbean.

Strategic opportunities missed

The Malawi Foreign Ministry highlighted the significance of President Chakwera’s participation, which was to be underpinned by the sponsorship of Afreximbank.

The visit was seen as a crucial opportunity for Malawi to secure additional support and to establish further partnerships aligning with the nation’s Agriculture, Tourism, and Mining (ATM) Strategy and its new initiatives on special economic zones and industrial parks.

Additional travel plans halted

In addition to his commitments in the Bahamas, President Chakwera was also expected to travel to Bürgenstock, Switzerland, to attend the Global Peace Summit on June 15-16.

However, these plans have been put on hold in light of the recent tragic events.

Ongoing rescue efforts

The Malawi government disclosed that the Vice President and the accompanying individuals were aboard a Malawi Defence Force aircraft scheduled to land at Mzuzu International Airport.

Following the crash, aviation authorities have been unable to establish contact with the aircraft.

President Chakwera has directed all national and regional agencies to launch an immediate search and rescue operation to locate the missing aircraft and its occupants, underscoring the urgency of the situation. (Article from CNW, Bahamas)