Plan for returning terrorist fighters

Targeted research and social campaigns are being looked at for foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) who return to this country, reported National Security Minister Edmund Dillon.

He was responding to a question in Parliament on Friday, on the ministry’s plans to address terrorism and crime to avert the concern of potential international visitors.

Dillon, in his reply, said he was committed to addressing and reversing the process of radicalisation of FTFs who returned to TT from conflict countries.

“In this regard, focus is being given to the conduct of targeted research on this group and the implementation of innovative social campaigns and initiatives geared toward re-building national allegiance and support for national counter terrorism efforts.”

He said Government had begun a process of deepening partnerships with key non-governmental, faith-based and community-based organisations to harness their extensive social networks, inherent dynamism, innovation and energies to counter the terrorist ideologies.

He added that priority focus had also been given to strengthening programmes aimed at addressing perceived economic and social inequalities, employment creation and overall rehabilitation and reintegration of radicalised people into society.

He said the Police Service, through Special Branch, continued to monitor terrorist activity and work closely with Interpol. He reported that in keeping with the Police Service Operating Plan 2017 the organisation conducted training for officers to deal with active shooter situations as part of its efforts to address the risk of terrorism.

He said the Police Service also recognised the importance of safety and security to potential visitors and continued to partner with the Ministry of Tourism, Division of Tourism Culture and Transportation and other stakeholders as well as train officers in tourism-oriented policing with the aim of maximising the safety and security of citizens and visitors to TT.

Dillon said, in an effort to bolster national capacity in the area of countering and preventing violent extremism, TT had also enhanced collaboration with its bilateral and international partners, including the US, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada and the UN on a number of crime reduction and social justice programmes. He said Government also partnered with key international agencies to deliver required training to national stakeholders in an effort to build capacity on the issue of both preventing and countering radicalisation in this country.

Dillon also listed a number of efforts to combat terrorism including: this country answering the global call to arms against terrorism as identified in the UN Global Counter Terrorism Strategy; enhancement of the strategic policy framework; combating money laundering and financing of terrorism as a member of of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force; reviewing and amending of domestic legislation; strengthening national capacity and inter-agency collaboration; and strengthening of border security.

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"Plan for returning terrorist fighters"

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