Globalization and an increase in the technologies that people across the world are using provides even more avenues for persons involved in terrorism and other criminal activities to carry out their schemes.
This is coming from the Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Richard Sealy who spoke at the organization of American States (OAS) Tourism Security Training Seminar that was held in conjunction with the Barbados Tourism Product Authority, the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) and the Government of Canada at the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) headquarters yesterday.
He said that these security threats are not only those that would occur in the air, but also on land and on the internet and the recent attacks in London and Paris should show the citizens of the Caribbean that they cannot become complacent when it comes to these attacks and assume that they could never occur here.
“Globalization and modern technologies mean that it is not only about security at all levels in the air, but on the ground, at the hotel plants, but also cyber security – what is going on in cyberspace in the era of the terrorist attacks, most recently in both Paris and London. Not suffice to say that the world is a bit less safe than we would have liked it to (be) and gone are the days when we in the Caribbean could simply say that those attacks could never happen in the region and more particularly, that they could never happen in Barbados. But you know if you cast your mind back a few years, you would have heard that nothing like that could ever have happened in the USA and of course they had to confront the whole 9/11 and we are all still feeling the effects of that very unfortunate day.”
The Minister of Tourism stated that this is why it is imperative that Governments in the region and other stakeholders provide training to those persons who are charged with the responsibility of protecting the nation – the BDF and the Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF).
He said, “Nevertheless, we are all obligated to put protective measures in place starting with security training. The world has certainly changed as these terrorist attacks are happening in countries away from ours, but it now ranks high on our list of pressing concerns and Barbados and the Caribbean must be in a position to deal with such threats. Barbados of course is peculiar as tourism destinations go in the region and beyond. Our nation state and our destination are one in the same...and that is why it is important that all of our security personnel – and it is very heartening to see that not only the Royal Barbados Police Force; the Defence Force are represented here today – but providers of security in the private sector as well – are all here in order to form an alliance, a national alliance to deal with these issues. That is why the training of security personnel is essential in order for all concerned to meet international standards and to be able to deal effectively with what is confronting us.”
In stating that, Sealy also urged the participants to utilise this opportunity.
“I am sure that the participants would have the opportunity to benefit from the experiences with the other delegates and bring a cross representation of ideas, scenario plans. The information I expect of course would be passed on to your colleagues and indeed to society at large. By providing information, all of that could lead to a more stable environment and therefore those elements in selling Barbados or selling the region can be very strong. So to all of the participants, I just urge you to take advantage of this opportunity...I am sure that it would resound to your own professional benefit but of course to the benefit of your country. I implore you to make the most of the opportunity and embrace the important role that you are playing in maintaining the region as a destination of excellence.”