TT to chair hemispheric anti-terror group

THE UNITED States is supporting the nomination of Trinidad and Tobago to chair the Inter-American Commi-ttee Against Terrorism (CICTE). In making the announcement last week, Asa Hutchinson, Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security for the US Department of Homeland Security, said Trinidad and Tobago had “demonstrated its leadership and commitment to working with the United States and our hemispheric partners to combat terrorism.”

Hutchinson was speaking ahead of the CICTE’s fifth regular session which takes place in Port-of-Spain from Wednesday to Friday. He will be leading the US delegation to the session. Other members of that delegation will include Ambassador John Maisto, US Permanent Representative to the Organisa-tion of American States (OAS); Bill Pope, Acting Coordinator for Counter terrorism in the US State Department; and Chris Arcos, International Affairs Ambassador, US Department of Homeland Security.

The meeting will focus on border, transportation and cyber security, as well as prospects for stringer cooperation and partnership in the area of aviation security, including enhanced security measure for flights with specific security concerns. Speaking at a news briefing in Washington, Hutchinson noted: “This meeting will also allow us to reaffirm the connections that exist between terrorism and illegal transnational activities such as trafficking in arms, asset laundering, organised crime and drug trafficking. All these activities pose serious threats to the security of our hemisphere.”