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| Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Maxine McClean,??presents US Ambassador to Barbados, Larry Palmer, with a gift, today during a courtesy call at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign??Trade. (A.Miller/BGIS) |
The work of the Regional Security System (RSS) was lauded by United States Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Larry Palmer today.
He heaped accolades on the organisation’s work in protecting the region’s coast lines during a courtesy call on Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Maxine McClean at the Ministry’s Culloden Road, St. Michael office this morning.
"Representatives from our Coast Guard have said that the RSS has helped them tremendously, and I would like to keep up the relationship and improve it," he said.????????????????
The US Ambassador added that through such arrangements both countries stood to benefit as it served to increase public safety, and at the same time equip and train law enforcement personnel in dealing with new levels of crime.
"This [Barbados] is one of the most secure countries I have the pleasure of working with," Mr. Palmer said.
In terms of the existing harmonious relationship that existed between the two countries, he said: "Barbados and the US are close on so many things and we would like to keep up what already exists.
The US Ambassador also expressed a desire to see more involvement of the diaspora in initiatives and programmes being held in Barbados. "We are also trying to get more scholarships for students from Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean to the US," he said.
In turn, Senator McClean noted that Barbados’ collaboration with the US on matters of security was important, since it was an issue that could affect all members of the society.
She added that the RSS was important to the region’s security, particularly Barbados and the Southern Caribbean.
Minister McClean expressed the hope that opportunities for students in the areas of technology, alternative energy and research and development would be expanded.
"One of the greatest needs in an economy such as ours is for young people with an entrepreneurial spirit to be exposed to opportunities to look at product development," she said.
Barbados and the US established formal diplomatic relations on November 30, 1966.