Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator Maxine McClean has lauded the work of the French government in bolstering regional security.
She was speaking during a courtesy call from French Ambassador Jacques Sturm at the Parliament Buildings Monday.
McClean told the ambassador that CARICOM countries recognized their vulnerabilities since drug traffickers used the Caribbean as a transit point.
“On our own, we are really unable to fight [the narcotics] scourge so we are grateful for the contribution that you make,” she said.
Sturm thanked McClean for Government’s cooperation in the fight against illegal drugs and apprised her of a week of training which began Monday for local law enforcement agencies.
It is being conducted by the Counter Narcotic Interagency Training Centre, which will be training members of the Royal Barbados Police Force, the Barbados Coast Guard and Customs Department on Sailing Vessel Search and Maritime Intelligence and Air Trafficking/Passenger Targetting. Members of the French Coast Guard, Customs and the National Investigation and Intelligence Division will be sharing their knowledge on trends of illicit trafficking during the training.
Sturm also presented McClean with a copy of an Independence Day message from French President Francois Hollande in recognition of Barbados’ 47th anniversary of Independence last Saturday.
The ambassador and minister also discussed ways in which Barbados could take advantage of the preferential trading arrangements which exist between Barbados and France through the Economic Partnership Agreement.
Barbados and France established diplomatic relations in May 1968. (BGIS)