Guyanese complete US-sponsored port security training

Last Updated on Friday, 19 September 2014, 20:44 by GxMedia

Forty-three persons working in port security this week completed a United States Embassy-sponsored training program for Guyanese port security workers and sea cadets on the intricacies of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code).

The American Embassy said the three-day class, consisting of 43 students including 10 Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) cadets, focused on international security regulations and helped build relationships between port employees, Guyanese government agencies, and the U.S. Coast Guard. This was the fifth course in a series of training programs designed to enhance port security.

The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS) outlines responsibilities of governments, shipping companies, shipboard and port/facility personnel to identify security threats and take preventative measures against security incidents affecting ships or port facilities used in international trade.

The program, funded through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), helps strengthen capacity and provide practical skills to relevant security officials working in the critically important area of port security. Through such CBSI partnerships, the United States and Guyana seek to enhance the bilateral security relationship to create a partnership to combat transnational crime, develop strong security institutions in Guyana, and advance the safety and security of the citizens of Guyana.