Trinidad and Tobago to implement Interpol security enhancements

INTERPOL Washington with support from Caricom Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) has deployed two advanced technology and software solutions in Trinidad and Tobago that will help law enforcement to detect and ban transnational criminals and terrorists from travelling through the country.

An Interpol statement on August 4 said TT became the second Caricom nation to implement the border security enhancements, after Barbados made its own announcement on July 26.

Interpol Washington officer Keith Hood, said, "This tremendous milestone underscores the vital importance of international partnerships in enhancing border security.

"By working together with TT, we are fortifying not only their borders but also the security of the entire Caribbean region and beyond. Collaborative efforts like these are essential in our global fight against crime and terrorism."

Hood is the leader of Project Terminus, the Interpol Washington team which successfully installed the two custom software solutions – the Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD) Workbench and the Stolen Motor Vehicles (SMV) Workbench – in TT.

Both tools were developed by Interpol Washington.

The statement said the systems allowed TT to efficiently share, manage, and extend vital document and vehicle information with 195 other Interpol member nations.

"The newly installed applications include 11,000 test records and 243 live records that have already been successfully uploaded to the Interpol SLTD database.

"The SLTD Workbench solution has also been used to extend 100 expiring records. They also enhanced critical day-to-day operations for Interpol National Central Bureau (NCB) TT."

IMPACS executive director Lt Col Michael Jones said crime and criminality affects everyone in the region.

"It is for this reason that collaboration among agencies is important to combat the effects of crime and terrorism that are plaguing our member states.

"Caricom IMPACS is pleased to partner with and support Project Terminus as we work together to reduce and eliminate the impact of this scourge.”

The statement said the success was achieved through funding from the US Department of State Counter Terrorism Bureau and in close co-ordination with NCB TT.

"Interpol Washington’s Project Terminus, a collaborative effort with the US Department of State, aims to enhance Interpol screening and record submission by member countries by providing cutting-edge computer hardware and custom software solutions.

"These initiatives are designed to streamline service adoption and maximise data usability and effectiveness."

It added that Project Terminus was pivotal in supporting the broader US government law-enforcement mission by creating connections between US government law-enforcement agencies and partner nation entities.