Antigua Gifted With Border Security Equipment

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Tuesday, 03 July 2012 02:30

By caribarena news

Antigua St. John’s - The Immigration Department within the Ministry of National Security and Labour now has in its possession a “Foster + Freeman Eye – D/C1”, a compact, portable device used for checking security and travel documents at borders.

The lightweight equipment, valued at EC $10,000, was handed over to Minister of National Security & Labour Senator Dr. L. Errol Cort and members of the Immigration Department on Monday by Daniel Carruthers, second secretary of the British High Commission in Barbados.
 
It is the only one of its kind in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), according to a press release.
 
Mr. Carruthers said that today’s presentation was a part of the United Kingdom’s efforts to bolster international border control and security in light of their hosting of the Olympics games in a few weeks and conscious of the increasing international security needs.
 
He added that the UK has had a close working relationship with the Antiguan and Barbudan Immigration Service and, as a small token of that working relationship he was delighted to be able to contribute the new piece of equipment.
 

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In accepting the device on behalf of the Immigration Department, Dr Cort said the Government of Antigua & Barbuda was very happy that the UK Government has seen it fit to donate such a valuable piece of equipment to the Immigration Department.
 
He acknowledged the close working relationship the Department has had with the UK Border Services, when last year members of the local Immigration team were able to spend a week in the UK observing their operations, and as recently as last month the Immigration Department was able to facilitate a staff member of the British High Commission who was stationed there to conduct immigration matters.
 
The Foster + Freeman Eye – D/C1 is designed to check standard security features in travel documents and can be deployed to improve national and border security and will be based at the V.C. Bird International Airport.

However, as Dr. Cort pointed out, it can also be utilised by other departments within the ministry such as the Passport and Citizenship Office, which currently sends documents to the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) for verification.
 

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