Dominica to benefit from new US military/RSS agreement

Chairman of the Regional Security System (RSS), Rayburn Blackmore says Dominica stands to benefit from a new partnership agreement signed between the US military and the RSS. And notwithstanding the anticipated security benefits, Dominica along with the rest of the region is also looking forward to cash in on a number of development and humanitarian projects. “

The main objective of this partnership” said Blackmore “is to enhance our security arrangement throughout the RSS member states, and Dominica being a member of RSS will benefit from whatever assistance that is going to be given in terms of training for our coastguard and training in other aspects of law enforcement. Those are the areas from a security standpoint from which Dominica is going to benefit, but beyond that we are looking at aspects of human development in terms of education, healthcare and housing.”

Blackmore also noted that given the tremendous security challenges facing the Caribbean and the issues of crime, the region would need the support of its extra regional partners if it is to effectively tackle those problems. “We have to develop an approach that seeks to promote friendly partnerships with countries beyond the region so that information and skills and expertise can be exchanged and utilized for the common good of our societies.”

The RSS chairman added that quite apart from the emphasis placed on issues of security and law enforcement applications, attention has to be given to the many social problems confronting the region. “We have to look at the fundamental issue of human security that speaks to social issues namely health care, the issues of unemployment, and the issues of improved education. If we can have this partnership whereby we can have exchanges so our people can benefit in so far as health and education are concern, this programme in itself will have substance and relevance for ours existence as Caribbean people.”

The RSS is an international agreement for the defense and security of the Eastern Caribbean region. It was established after the US invasion of Grenada in 1983