US Homeland Security helping Govt

ACTING National Security Minister Franklin Khan yesterday revealed that the United States Department of Homeland Security has been working closely with the Government to improve Trinidad and Tobago’s border security. He said the armed forces were prepared for any security threat in light of the war in Iraq.

Speaking with reporters at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Khan said since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Homeland Security has been working with Government to augment security at Piarco International Airport. With respect to the nation’s ports, Khan said: “Just to be safe, most countries are beefing up security at their ports of entry. Security is not as advanced as airport security but we’re working on it.Trust me when I say that security has been increased at the major ports of entry and at key installations.” Asked what these increased measures entailed, Khan said it “has to do with manpower systems and surveillance equipment”. Asked about the Coast Guard’s ability to protect the nation’s ports and maritime installations, the Minister replied: “ Luckily we are not in the immediate war zone or we are not considered a high risk area. While the Police, the Army and the Coast Guard still under-resourced to an extent for a major national security alert, we are not in a state of alert. We are just beefing up security.”

He said the present Coast Guard vessels allow full security coverage of the ports of Port-of-Spain, Point Lisas, La Brea, Galeota and Cedros. Khan added that since the outbreak of war in Iraq, the Governments of Trinidad and Tobago and the United States have been in close communication with one another. Energy Minister Eric Williams left yesterday for Washington DC to discuss security arrangements for US energy interests in Trinidad and Tobago. He said the American Government was “quite comfortable with the levels of security” in this country. Earlier, in his address to the Shipping Association of Trinidad and Tobago, Khan announced that the Maritime Services Division of the Ministry of Works and Transport will implement the Internal Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code “to ensure security of ships and port facilities”. The ISPS is targeted for international implementation “by governments, port authorities and shipping companies before July 2004”.