Published 14 June 2018
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
Remarks by the Hon Prime Minister, Dr Timothy Harris, at the Closing Ceremony
of Tradewinds 2018 Exercise Phase 1 at Government House on June 12, 2018
“Capacity development through integrated training and exercises to confront security challenges of the 21st Century”
Exercise TRADEWINDS 2018 Phase I offered a joint learning environment aimed at improving the region’s security capacity network. The requirement for understanding the operating environment was crucial to the exercise’s success. While the training and practical skills in Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief, Counterdrug Operations, Law Enforcement and Maritime Domain Awareness are important, it is important that you take away the clear understanding that your roles as security professionals are intricately woven into and directly connected to improving the lives of all our citizens and residents. You must leave our beautiful shores with the conviction that a safe operating environment increases investor confidence, tourists’ arrivals, improves delivery of services and many other associated national benefits that in turn allow for the enhancement of our quality of life.
Exercise Tradewinds 2018 was designed to cooperate at the operational and tactical levels, and at its conclusion, any gaps or deficiencies identified in practice, require that we re-examine our modus operandi. The Tradewinds concept does not conclude because the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response teams have completed their training and exercise. In fact, this is where the real work begins. Our planners have the responsibility to examine the effects of this experience on our human development capacity. If we do not evaluate our capacity and make the recommended improvements, Tradewinds 2018 would be remembered just as a journey and a tourism excursion within our beautiful islands. I want you to remember the unique quality of our shores and the hospitality of our people for future vacations of course, but it cannot be separated from the efforts that you have put in over the past week.
The development of previous successive stages of Exercises were modelled after a series of ancestral practices that proved advantageous in dealing with the security threats at the time. Exercise 2018 was planned to begin the transition towards improving education opportunities, retraining of today’s forces to meet current and emerging security challenges. I want to firmly impress upon the law enforcement leadership and every other leadership represented here that we must not just be content in confronting and reacting to emerging and existing threats. We must be strategists, anticipatory and sagacious in our thought processes if we are to shape the operating environment to our advantage.
Gender Balance
I am also encouraged by the gender integration and the contribution of women in our military and other operations throughout the Exercise. The increasing number of females demonstrates the reality that they possess the equal capacity to function as capable and trusted comrades in the field.
Our regional and hemispheric jointness is important and in fact inescapable. As the Defence Force Commander alluded to in his remarks at the Opening Ceremony, our Caribbean friends of different languages are necessary partners in our joint exercises. Our histories are only divergent in part through language. As Minister of National Security, it is my hope too that the US SOUTHCOM considers spearheading initiatives that help us to bridge this language divide in order to strengthen our security partnerships within the region of the Western Hemisphere. Our neighbours are French speaking, Dutch speaking, and Spanish speaking. Fluency in language is a crucial asset in collaboration.
Human Rights
PHASE I brought together a multiplicity of nations, agencies, and resources to conduct training and exercise geared towards human capacity development and the enhancement of human security. Embedded within the fabric of our Caribbean peoples is our respect for the rights of others. While it may not have been explicitly stated in the theme, your training and operations allowed you the opportunity to perform your duties within the confines of the law, with due regard for the right of others. Your professionalism throughout Phase I demonstrated that inherent quality. I encourage you to keep the rights of others as a major factor as you conduct your duties to the state.
I am advised that EXERCISE TRADEWINDS 2018 Phase I was a success. Your joint cooperation over the short period has proven beneficial to improving the wider region’s initiatives in reducing crime in the Caribbean region and, by extension, the Western Hemisphere. It is possible therefore and I indeed assuredly express that our collective regional security interest of improving human security by reducing the inflow of illegal weapons, containing and eradicating criminal gangs can be achieved alongside the US and other partner nations’ national security interests of reducing the flow of illegal drugs through the region. This requires a more serious and formal dialogue, to which we are firmly committed. While the operational and tactical objectives are left to the military and police experts, it is my responsibility to provide clear guidance on our National Security Policy.
We desire that all security cooperation programmes continue to develop in the forms that allow our citizens to access greater avenues and means to reduce crime. Drug and other transnational crime networks in the region will not thrive under our joint efforts. Your participation in Exercise Tradewinds demonstrates that when we cooperate they will not overwhelm our nation’s capacity to cope. In this regard, all participating states must come away from the Exercise with the improved capability to work with multiple security partners in a peaceful or contested environment. As you journey back to your homes, continue to build the relationships you forged during this short period. It will serve your countries well.
Conclusion
Finally, I express our gratitude to the sponsors of Exercise Tradewinds. US Southern Command has been gracious to facilitate this training and exercise activity. Without their input, the ability to cooperate at this level would be severely impacted. The Commander US SOUTHCOM recognises the importance that this region plays in the balance of world power, the security and safety of our region and the potential it has for the future. By this recognition, the region has benefitted from successive training opportunities. It is my sincere honour to express thanks on behalf of all participating nations.
To members of all participating nations and agencies, it was a pleasure having you here. Hasta proxima. Au revoir. So long. May your friendships, cooperation and capacities mutually improve. Take with you fond memories of our country, our people, our culture, cuisine and our service.
May you all have safe journeys home. Thank you and may God bless us all in the region.
