Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica concluded the Multi-Country Border Security Program (MCBS), funded by the European Union, which included technical assistance, training activities, study visits and delivery of equipment to improve the capacities of security institutions to fight transnational crime.

Managed by the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP), this program aimed to establish a system of management and exchange of information between state security agencies, improve surveillance capabilities at land and maritime borders with regard to transnational activities, organized crime, strengthen the investigative capabilities of security forces and increase the prevention and fight against human trafficking.

During the project closing ceremony, Olaya Dotel Caraballo, Deputy Minister of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development of the Dominican Republic and national authorizing officer of the European Development Fund (EDF) declared "the exchange of critical security information constitutes a step forward in the fight against transnational crime [...] The exchange of experiences between our countries has been enriching, allowing us to learn from each other and to adopt best practices to apply them in the security strategies of our respective countries."

For his part, Alexander Gotz, cooperation attaché of the EU delegation, reaffirmed the European bloc's commitment to supporting citizen security and addressing the challenges posed by organized crime, mainly from a regional perspective.

While Hervé Philippe, representative of the EDF national authorizing officer for Haiti, stressed the importance of border security to guarantee the free movement of people and goods, which becomes more relevant in the context of globalization.

Tashna Morris, representative of the National Authorizing Officer of the European Development Fund for Jamaica, indicated that this program has strengthened her country's security system to respond more strategically to the challenges of transnational crime.

Fernando Herrero, FIIAPP project team leader, explained that the MCBS facilitated contacts between the security forces of the Dominican Republic and Haiti at the border crossings of Dajabón-Ouanaminte and Pedernales-Anse-à-Pitres.

For her part, Alicia Sangro, program coordinator of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), detailed the initiatives promoted by this project to prevent trafficking and smuggling of human beings in vulnerable areas.

They also highlighted as one of the achievements the strengthening of relations and coordination between the countries of the region, with which they can quickly share information and make timely decisions.

HL/ HaitiLibre