Nassau, The Bahamas -- On January 21, Shevaun Culmer, represented the Secretariat of the Interame rican Committee against Terrorism (CICTE) of the Organisation of American States, at the Aviation Anti Terrorism Techniques Seminar, because she wants to see this initiative brought to fruition and also because it is her hometown.  

The seminar was held in the Oceanview Ballroom at SuperClub Breezes. 

"As you know the threat of the hurricane postponed this course last year, but thankfully we all made it here safely, and hopefully, just as eager as we were last year," said Ms. Culmer.

She said the trainer screening course for the Family Islands came as the result of the vision of the late Dan Astorga, from the TSA, after his visit to Nassau to observe another aviation security course, held in December 2011. They put the idea on paper with the hope that someone would fund it.

After getting approval and funding from the US Government it was discussed with Civil Aviation in The Bahamas who quickly moved forward to take ownership of the project and expanded it to include eight more airports than was initially intended.

This was to give you a little bit of a background on how enthusiastic all of the collaborators were in putting this together in hopes that it would be of great benefit to all of the participants and hoped that they maintained their enthusiasm throughout the week, and that they continue to pass along the training to their colleagues at respective airports.

"This course is one of a series of courses being convened in OAS Member States to increase their capacity to comply with the standards and recommended practices set out by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) with respect to safeguarding international civil aviation and its facilities, from acts of unlawful interference and is just one of the ways in which CICTE is seeking to strengthen the ability of OAS countries to combat the scourge of terrorism," said Ms. Culmer.

Ms Culmer drew up a vision about the foundation of terrorism as she quoted a statement made at the inaugural ceremony of the Tenth Regular Session of the Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism, in Washington DC, in March 2010.

"Secretary General of the OAS Jose Miguel Insulza noted, and I quote:

'Acts of terrorism are a frontal attack against the essential values that [the OAS] defends - [life, peace, freedom and democracy].  Instead of defending life, terrorism brings death. Instead of peace and democratic tolerance, it offers violence and intolerance. It destroys the underpinnings of our democratic societies in order to obtain financing. It associates with international criminal groups to multiply its resources and effects, and it radicalises the behaviour of some of our youth, thereby depriving them of their future. In short, it seeks to undermine the rule of law, our peaceful and democratic way of life, diversity of opinion, tolerance, and individual freedoms'," said Ms. Culmer.

Ms. Culmer said that Secretary General Insulza's remarks concisely defined the predicament of life in the 21st century, where the threads of terrorism interweave everyday reality.  She said that Acts of terrorism have now become commonplace and are increasingly occurring closer to home, in safe zones.

"Images beamed to us live from zones of conflict globally, remind us daily of the ultimate price that some are willing to pay for their beliefs and the high price that we can pay for our inattention," said Ms. Culmer.

"The countries of this hemisphere have been working assiduously to sharpen their vigilance against terrorist acts, and to develop and enhance the policies, skills, mechanisms and structures that will allow them to wage their own war on terrorism.  It is critical therefore that the agencies and personnel who work in or manage airport environments continuously reinforce their capacity to detect, interdict and remove threats found in the international supply chain."

She said that while the openness and fluidity of our global marketplace allows many areas of social and economic activity to thrive, we must not provide the space for terrorism and criminality to do so.

Ms. Culmer thanked the US government and the US Transportation Security Administration for their partnership with the OAS in this training activity.  She also thanked the Government of The Bahamas and in particular the Ministry of Transport and Aviation and the Department of Civil Aviation for their collaboration and hosting of this activity.