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From thebahamasweekly.com - Bahamas Information Services Updates
WASHINGTON, DC -- National Security Minister the Hon Tommy Turnquest assumed the chairmanship of the 10th Regular Session of the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE) – an arm of the Organization of American States – at a ceremony in Washington DC on Wednesday evening. It is the first time The Bahamas has chaired the Committee.
The Bahamas was elected by
acclamation to chair the committee through March 2011, after having
served as Vice Chair to Mexico over the last year. Colombia nominated
The Bahamas, citing among other things the country’s “widespread
activity” in support of Mexico’s chairmanship as reason to support
The Bahamas in the position of chairman. Canada, a major contributor
to the OAS and the CICTE, seconded the nomination.
Mr Turnquest, during brief
remarks, expounded on the theme chosen by The Bahamas for the three-day
conclave – “Public/Private Partnerships In The Fight Against Terrorism.”
The Minister said the
“traditional
approach to terrorism has been that it is a critical security matter,
and is therefore the responsibility of the state.”
“Recent attacks by terrorists,
however, show that their willful and wanton destruction is intended
to inflect maximum damage in terms of lives and property, and they are
not concerned about whether what they destroy is public or private,”
he said.
“There is, consequently,
a growing appreciation that the traditional approach to countering
terrorism
does not create a sufficient space for the business community and other
civil actors, whose interests can be devastated by acts of terrorism.
It also does not take into account the information, knowledge,
experience
and resources that the private sector can bring to bear on efforts to
counter terrorism, and the potential threat from terrorist activities.”
Mr Turnquest said an increasing awareness of the significant value in public-private sector partnership is encouraging governments to establish such partnerships “as a critical countermeasure from which states and the private sector can mutually benefit in the fight against terrorism and to guard against potential terrorist threats.”
“Such partnerships,” he said, “heighten public interest, raise awareness, build mutual understanding, and allows for private sector input in government’s antiterrorism policies and programmes. Public-private sector partnership also helps to broaden the resource base, both financial and human, in the fight against terrorism.”
The Minister stressed that
under the leadership of the state, public-private sector partnerships
could have a positive impact in many areas including security for major
events, crisis management, capacity building, and protection of
infrastructure,
including critical economic infrastructure.
Prior to taking the chair,
Mr Turnquest had meetings in Washington with OAS Secretary General Jose
Miguel Insulza; George Gallegos, head of the CICTE Secretariat, and
his deputy, and the Defense Minister from Uruguay, Luis Barilla.
After the session, he met with
the Permanent Representative of Grenada, which was elected Vice Chair
of CICTE X.
On Thursday, the Minister is
expected to meet with Canada, and on Friday, The Bahamas will host a
luncheon for the heads of delegations to the OAS.
The CICTE was founded in 2002
to promote and develop cooperation among OAS Member-States in order
to prevent, combat and eliminate terrorism in accordance with the
principles
of the OAS Convention against Terrorism, and with full respect of the
sovereignty of states, the rule of international law, including
humanitarian,
international human rights and international refugee laws.
The committee also provides
technical assistance and training for Member States in response to their
needs and requests, and coordinates with other international, regional
and sub-regional organizations. It hosts one Regular Session each year
as a forum for discussion and decision-making on counter-terrorism
issues,
measures and cooperation.
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