Planning to meet the vast security requirements for hosting the Small Islands
Developing States (SIDS)4 conference here in Antigua and Barbuda in May, has
already started with the establishment of a Task Force to oversee this critical
subject.
Making the announcement, Information and Technology Minister, Melford
Nicholas, said the Task Force has already held two ‘very productive’ meetings. “In
terms of the security, we are in full engagement. I have appointed a task force
between my Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology, APUA
and the Chief of Defense Staff, Col. Telbert Benjamin. We had two successful
engagements last week as I wanted to ensure that the assistance that the United
States government has offered to our own military that they can have all the
resources that they would need,” he explained.
Further, Nicholas revealed that an officer from Motorola, the suppliers of the
public safety communications network that will be deployed during the conference,
is on island and he expects the system will be fully ready in a matter of weeks.
In addition to these developments, the Cabinet accepted the offer from the United
States to train a cadre of Police Officers whose primary function will be to provide
Security for the Heads of Government and the Heads of State who will be present
during the SIDS Conference, May 27- 30, 2024. The Trainers will come to Antigua
and will likely use the Sir Wright George Academy for the training.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet has continued its examination of those requirements for
the successful hosting of the 4 th SIDS Conference in Antigua. The Chairman of
Cabinet spoke with Ambassador to the UN (from the Cabinet room) and was given
assurances that many of the requirements in pre-planning were already in place.
The Minister of Tourism gave assurances that the V.C. Bird International Airport
would be equipped with the kiosks that will allow arriving passengers to enter their
biographical data electronically, such that the wait at Immigration in the Arrivals
Terminal will be greatly reduced.
Negotiations are continuing with a cruise ship company that will allow for 2,500
delegates to be housed in a cruise vessel moored in St. John’s Harbour during the
days of the Conference. The ship will arrive before the conference and depart after.
Deposits on hotel rooms have already been demanded; 2,500 hotel rooms will
likely be blocked to accommodate that many delegates.
