2009 Speeches
Remarks by U.S. Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., Timothy Zúñiga-Brown
Graduation Ceremony of the State Department Antiterrorism Assistance Program VIP Tactical Support Team Pilot Course
Friday, May 22, 2009
Undersecretary Deveaux-Isaacs, Assistant Commissioner Gibson,instructors, friends and colleagues, Good Afternoon – Thank you for giving me the opportunity to address you at the conclusion of what I hope you will agree was a valuable and important training course for a “VIP Tactical Support Team”.
It is my particular pleasure to extend my congratulations to each of the students for your completion of this impressive course. It is the culmination of a series of “tactical support training modules” that have been successfully completed by the Royal Bahamas Police Force. I find it particularly impressive that this course is a pilot program this is the first time in the world that pilot program has been offered, and it was offered first to The Bahamas because of the excellence and the professional commitment to training that has been the hall mark of your service to your citizens.
We recognize and applaud your experience, your eagerness to hone your skills, and your willingness to work together with us as partners in every facet of law enforcement in our common region.
This program, as you know, is part of the U.S. State Department’s Antiterrorism Assistance Program (ATA), which provides partner countries such as The Bahamas necessary training, equipment, and technology to assist in the fight against international terrorism. I believe your efforts will save lives should we face the unfortunate situation of a terrorist incident, or other serious event requiring special tactical operations.
Ladies and gentlemen, this course is about preparing leaders to react to a threat. This is about having people prepared to provide tactical support so that a protective security detail can evacuate the protected person from an attack site.
This course was designed for professionals, who not only want to take the field, but also want to take their game to the next level.
The Police Force has repeatedly shown its readiness and willingness to invest in maintaining AND sharpening its operational crime-fighting skills. That’s why I am confident that this course will improve the Police Force’s already impressive planning, command, and leadership capabilities.
I am confident that this course will save lives and make it safer for dignitaries to visit The Bahamas, I am confident that this course will make it safer for your country to host major events. The over-riding goal, as I mentioned, is to improve the Police Force’s ability to organize, plan and provide tactical support to a protective security detail. But frankly it is also about you student’s being ready to handle whatever challenge your battle against crime throws at you.
Your training, your skills, your preparedness, can act as a deterrent not only against terrorists – but to the criminals you must face every day on the front lines of protecting law-abiding society.
Criminals, like terrorists, are always on the lookout for “soft targets”. They’re always looking for vulnerabilities. They’re always looking for their next victims.
Whether it’s the drug-runners, the gangs, the human smugglers, or any others who prey on productive and peaceful citizens – I believe you are ready to meet the threat as trained professionals.
For this course the State Department, through the ATA program, has donated over $200,000 of tactical equipment, such as 9 mm Glock handguns, M4 Colt rifles, 50,000 rounds of ammunition, ballistic vests, plates and helmets, training equipment, laptop computers, projectors and other tactical equipment.
This grant is meant to keep officers safe and properly equipped ready to face the unexpected should the Tactical Unit be called upon. We view it as our duty to help you accomplish your mission through training courses such as this.
Your participation is part of The Bahamian answer to the challenge of rising crime. Your enthusiasm is a part of the Police Force’s commitment to answering that challenge. Your determination is the bedrock upon which you will prevail.
I thank you for participating in this training and I congratulate you on the completion of this course, and I encourage you to keep your skills sharp.