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Contact:
Claudia Monlouis
Wednesday, November 03, 2004 - The Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports
Authority (SLASPA) remains obligated to place high priority on security measures
to satisfy the regulations of the International Ship and Port Facility Security
Code.
The ISPS Code, which came into force in July 2004, introduced tougher security
measures to prevent and suppress acts of terrorism against ships.
Managing Director of SLASPA, Mr. Vincent Hippolyte said that any decision SLASPA
decided to implement, must be compatible with the new focus on security that the
code brought to bear upon the management of Sea Ports.
“We have, as you know a patrol vessel and that patrol vessel is activated to
provide that level of security, whenever we have activities that merit it. In
addition to this, we have our own police force, which will provide the necessary
security presence in order to ensure that the level of security can be attended
to. I should also tell you that the whole ISPS Code recognises levels of state
security so you can be operating at different levels; it’s like the United
States”, Mr. Hippolyte said.
Meantime, Mr. Hippolyte said SLASPA was still addressing the situation regarding
Bananes Bay at LaToc, through a mitigation plan. He informed that SLASPA was
working with the Ministry of Planning to ensure that the Fishers, who once
occupied Bananes Bay are relocated elsewhere.
Earlier this year the fishers were instructed that they could no longer continue
their seafaring activities in that area, as SLASPA attempted to comply with the
provisions of the code by the July 1, this year.
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