Navy pullout worries RSS head

CASTRIES, St. Lucia – Chairman of the Regional Security System (RSS) Guy Mayers today joined a growing list of officials who have warned of serious consequences for the sub-region should the British Navy withdraw its warships from Caribbean waters.
Reports emanating from the British press suggest that Britain is contemplating scaling back the operations of the navy in keeping with massive spending cuts intended to adjust the UK budget deficits.
“We would be exceptionally concerned here in St. Lucia and the rest of the region, over the possibility of something like this happening,” said Mayers who also the island’s National Security Minister.
He said the presence and might of the British naval power is crucial in the war on the transshipment of illegal drugs through the vast Caribbean Sea.
Mayers said the RSS which groups the nine OECS member states and Barbados continues to work closely with the British on counter narcotics and drug interdiction operations and any withdrawal at this time would no doubt disrupt the ongoing programmes.
“Their technical support is invaluable to the small islands which have limited resources and capacity, and given the fact that most of the illicit substances are destined for the industrialized world there is shared responsibility in tackling this huge problem,” he said. (CMC)