DIRECTOR of Operations and Plans of the Regional Security System (RSS), Lieutenant Colonel Glyne Grannum, says there are a number of contemporary challenges to be tackled by Caribbean and Latin American countries.
Speaking during a recently held panel discussion on Co-ordination Mechanisms in Latin America and Caribbean Regions for Natural Hazards and New Security Threats, he stressed the importance of the activities promoted by the Global Crisis Response Support Programme, which are critical to human capacity development through strengthening of crisis responses and early warning capabilities.
Highlighting some of the challenges that could impair the safety and well-being of the Caribbean, he pointed to those with terrorist ideologies and interests that welcome the presence of loose arrangements for the transport and storage of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear by-products.
“RSS has assessed that there is an urgent need to build capacity to deal with the new wave of terrorism, including radicalisation,” he said.
He also pointed to the number of transnational threats including infectious diseases, natural and man-made disasters, illicit drugs, human trafficking, cyber crime and financial crimes.
The director also told the panellists that a significant characteristic of today’s security environment is the deliberate or consequential marriage of several of the risk and threat vectors.
“For example, local and transnational criminal entrepreneurs thrive in post-disaster settings. We saw this in Haiti and this phenomena is common in all conflict and crisis zones, however caused.”
Colonel Grannum assured that the headquarters of the RSS has looked at the potential for migrant crisis as it relates to the potential impact on the entire Latin American and Caribbean region.
He cautioned that there are other risks and threats which include the illegal movement of hazardous wastes, maritime pollution, maritime resource exploitation, cyber attacks and climate change. (JH)
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