Security tightens at regional ports

Large loopholes in many Caribbean territories’ ports security systems have been closed up, and the region has the unfortunate events of 9/11 to thank for that.{{more}}

Following the September 11, 2001, bombing of the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon by Islamic extremists believed to be loyal to Osama Bin Laden, the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS code) was introduced in 2004.

The introduction of the ISPS code came with a huge financial burden on smaller states like St Vincent and the Grenadines.

But, according to Carlos Gallegos,(Photo below) the Executive Secretary of the Organization of American States (OAS)/ Inter- American Committee on Ports (CIP), the overall benefits in terms of security was worth the financial stress.

“Basic investments had to be made to get the port facilities up to the minimum standards, and I am happy to say that all the major ports in the region, in the Americas, are in compliance with the ISPS code,” Gallegos said.



Gallegos, who was in St Vincent last week to coordinate the week long Organization of American States (OAS) Workshop on Port Statistics, Cost and Tariffs, held at Sunset Shores in Villa, in a one on one with SEARCHLIGHT, explained the benefits that the code has brought to the region.

“Before the ISPS code, a lot of the ports in the region had huge lapses as it regards security,” Gallegos said.

“In smaller countries, we are not concerned with terrorism as the United States might be, but we are more concerned with drugs and firearms passing through our ports,” Gallegos said.

He said that drugs and firearms traffickers are finding it increasingly difficult to pass their “products” through official sea ports in the Caribbean countries.

“We have a long way to go, but all our ports are showing improvement, and plans are being implemented to make our port security tighter,” Gallegos added.

Paul Kirby, General Manager of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Port Authority confirmed Gallegos’ view.

“The increased security has made it harder for illegal activities to go on, with the cameras, and all the other surveillance things,” Kirby explained.

He told SEARCHLIGHT that the Port Authority also utilizes the police’s drugs and explosive dogs as part of its security strategy.

He, however, noted the high cost of the security upgrades, confirming that St Vincent and the Grenadines has spent over $2 million to implement the ISPS code.

He explained that a three-dollar per ton security charge tariff has been implemented to assist with the day to day security overhead.(KJ)