RSS Council discusses OECS Police Service and anti-corruption strategies public services

Head Table – RSS Director of Administration, Horace Kirton; RSS Co-ordinator, Grantley Watson; St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister and Chairman of the RSS Council of Ministers, Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas and RSS Legal Advisyer, Cynthia Herbert

ST. KITTS, MARCH 27TH 2010 (CUOPM) – A proposed OECS Police Service and the integration of the Regional Security System (RSS) within the CARICOM security framework were on the agenda for discussion when the Regional Security System (RSS) met in St. Kitts Friday morning.

The RSS annual one-day meeting at the Royal St. Kitts Marriott Resort and Royal Beach Casino was attended by the Prime Minister of Barbados, Hon. David Thompson, Grenada’s Prime Minister Hon. Tillman Thomas, St. Kitts and Nevis Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Hon. Sam Condor along with National Security Ministers from the RSS member countries and Barbados.

St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, who is Chairman of the RSS Council of Ministers said the meeting took place during challenging times.

“You cannot divorce the challenge that the RSS faces from the financial situation the region fasces as well as violence and crime. This meeting is critical because the RSS can be called upon to rise to the challenges with so little financial resources and so we must examine the programme before us and look within the context of the realities of the financial situation,” said Prime Minister Douglas in brief opening remarks.

He said the RSS Council must continue to ensure there is no duplication and whether the RSS and the CARICOM Security framework can exit and the role the RSS can play in both bodies with the security framework,” said Dr. Douglas.

Governor of the St. Kitts-based Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) Sir K. Dwight Venner is making a presentation on the proposed OECS Police Service.

The Council will also discussed the proposed RSS Vetting Policy, the Development of Anti-Corruption Strategies for the Public Services of the Member States of the Regional Security System; the RSS Training Academy y and Coast Guard and Caribbean-US Security Cooperation Dialogue, the 2010/2011 Budget and the ICC WT20 West Indies 2010 Championship.

The Regional Security System (RSS) comprises the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The Council of Ministers is the supreme policy making body of the System and is made up of the Ministers’ responsible for Defence and Security in each Member State.

St. Kitts and Nevis Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Hon. Sam Condor headed the St. Kitts and Nevis delegation which includes Permanent Secretary, National Assembly, Mrs. Astona Browne, Commissioner of Police Mr. Austin Williams and Major Cornel Kelly of the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force.