PERMANENT COUNCIL OF THE
ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES
COMMITTEE ON HEMISPHERIC SECURITY
OEA/Ser.G
CP/CSH/INF. 428/15
16 October 2015
Original: English
XII CONFERENCE OF DEFENSE MINISTERS OF THE AMERICAS
(Presentation by Mr. Carl Francis, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security of
Trinidad and Tobago – Meeting of the Committee on Hemispheric Security of October 8, 2015)
XII CONFERENCE OF DEFENSE MINISTERS OF THE AMERICAS
(Presentation by Mr. Carl Francis, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security of
Trinidad and Tobago – Meeting of the Committee on Hemispheric Security of October 8, 2015)
I thank you Mr. Chairman.
Your Excellencies and other distinguished representatives of the the Committee on
Hemispheric Security (CHS) of the OAS family, I welcome this opportunity to address you this
morning, as this event represents, for Trinidad and Tobago, an important step on the road to the
country’s hosting of the Twelfth Conference of Defense Ministers of the Americas (XII CDMA) in
Port of Spain, in October 2016.
From its inception in 1995, Trinidad and Tobago has participated in the various Conferences
of the CDMA and we are now proud to be the host of the 12th session of the Conference. The
chairmanship is for a period of two years. Indeed, we will be the first Caribbean country to host the
Conference, and we therefore embrace this opportunity to convene this historic meeting on behalf of
our sub-region.
The CDMA, is the principal hemispheric forum for defense ministers and it continues to
evolve. At the last CDMA held in October 2014 in Arequipa Peru, for the first time in its history,
mandates were given by one conference to the next to effect. In keeping with this new requirement ,
the Government of Trinidad and Tobago convened two Ad Hoc Working Group Meetings in August
this year to deliberate on:


Alternatives for coordination between the Conferences of Defense Ministers of the
Americas and the specialized conferences of the armed forces; and
Cooperation on Search and Rescue
During those meetings, we addressed the mandates and emphasised to the delegates of the
participating countries, our intention to strengthen our engagement and collaboration with all actors
to facilitate the successful outcome of the XII CDMA. This opportunity to address you today
therefore illustrates one example of the efforts being made by Trinidad and Tobago to honour this
position.
The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago has recognised the tremendous
work which has been undertaken, throughout the years in the areas of defense and security, under the
aegis of the OAS and its CHS. Trinidad and Tobago, like many countries in the Hemisphere, is
committed to the extremely important work of the CHS in safeguarding stability, security,
democracy and respect for human rights throughout the hemisphere. We applaud the efforts which
have been made in this regard.
The CDMA is the only forum in this Region that addresses and focuses principally on
defense issues and therefore represents another forum which brings us together. It is an additional
reminder that we are all part of the same hemisphere and that many of the issues we face require our
combined efforts.
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Article 44 of the Declaration of Security in the Americas recommended that the CHS
maintain the necessary liaison with other institutions and mechanisms, whether sub-regional,
regional, or international, related to the various aspects of security and defense in the Hemisphere.
One such institution is the CDMA.
It is our view that there are natural synergies between the objectives of the CDMA and the
CHS in relation to the issues of defense and security, as the lines between defense and security have
become increasingly blurred over the years and will continue to do so in the constantly changing
defense and security environment in which we now live. We intend to explore this constantly
changing phenomenon within the scope of the proposed themes to be deliberated upon by CDMA
member States.
Distinguished Colleagues, these are indeed interesting, often debilitating, and complex times
for us. As our nations confront the challenges of the new global order, there has never been a greater
need for a strong, purposeful and a well-supported defense framework for the Hemisphere. To
achieve this, two consequential steps must be taken. The first involves continuing to set clear
priorities and the second, is the strengthening of our cooperation to address these priorities.
The work of establishing a strategic vision for the Hemisphere is crucial to strengthening our
capacity to deliver measurable results in securing and defending not only our sovereign territories,
but also our common space.
Having reviewed the issues discussed at previous CDMAs and observing the present trends
in global defense and security, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago has proposed the following
Thematic Axes to be discussed at the XII CDMA:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
The Changing International Defense and Security Environment: The Evolving Role
of the Military;
Environmental Protection and Resilience; and
Hemispheric Security and Defense Cooperation Policy: A Case/Framework for
Strengthened Humanitarian Emergency Assistance.
These Axes have been proposed with a view to achieving greater cooperation through our
continued discourse. They seek to provide a platform on which we could enhance the dialogue on
solutions to the many growing issues that confront us in these early decades of the 21 st century.
Issues that are not defined by borders, political perspectives, geographical size or size of population
or economy; but issues that threaten the safety of all of us. Issues that we must act on swiftly for the
world is changing and our non-action will lead to our demise. I put it to you that the time for
renewed focus and action is now.
The Government of Trinidad and Tobago looks forward to the contribution of the Member
States of the OAS in defining these themes that have been proposed. To this end, a delegation from
my country is in Washington DC this week to engage in a number of meetings, including a
hemispheric podcast that will articulate our position on these themes and commence the dialogue
that is so essential for the hosting of a successful 12th CDMA. We recognise that the Hemisphere is
comprised of varying views and approaches to defense and security, but we know that there are
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certain common denominators that call for our combined efforts if we are to create an environment
that facilitates the protection and development of our societies.
The podcast will take place today at the Perry Center at Fort Mc Nair at 1.30 p.m. and we
look forward to your participation in this event.
Distinguished representatives , as I indicated earlier, Trinidad and Tobago is here today, to
underscore our commitment to partnering with all players, to support existing efforts to maintain
peace and stability in our hemisphere, and to help the hemisphere and its institutions realize that the
changing international dynamic is not about isolated state defense and security measures but more
about strengthening institutions and policies to treat with the new threats which call for a heightened
level of collaboration in many areas where we simply cannot act alone. This is not about the
imposition of any particular approach on states but it is about confronting the many challenges that
seek to whittle away the safety and security of our populations.
These proposed themes seek to determine how we could;
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
Examine ways and means to further effect the six (6) principles that underlie the
CDMA and which articulate common goals for defense and security and which were
agreed, not so far from where we are today, in Williamsburg in 1995;
Recognize the evolving role of the military in supporting public security across the
hemisphere. We want to deepen the dialogue on this matter on which we know there
are varying points of view. We know that a multidimensional approach is needed to
address the myriad challenges that threaten the security of us all and to utilize the
tremendous levels of training and competence in our militaries to cooperate and
collaborate with each other to effect results through meaningful functional cooperation;
Seek solutions to the way in which the changing global environment with issues of
warming and resultant sea level rise, scarcity of clean water, environmental
degradation, infectious disease, etc., could have an effect on military installations
and the health of the forces and so affect operational readiness. Find as well avenues
to utilize the tremendous capacity in the military to effect solutions to these issues.
And of course examine the ways in which the military itself could contribute to the
afore-mentioned problems and find ways to ameliorate or eradicate same.; and
Initiate discussion within the Americas on the development of a hemispheric
security and defense policy. This has been achieved by the African region, the
ASEAN the European Union and African Union. This hemisphere has not begun
these deliberations and is the only one without such a policy. We are of the view that
the time is ripe for this discussion. These policies were not achieved overnight in
these other regions but took years of deliberation. They are bringing tremendous
value in 2015. Such a hemispheric defense and security cooperation policy could
develop a framework for strengthened humanitarian emergency assistance in the
hemisphere. Events that have been occurring call for combined efforts for they are
so debilitating that some countries either lack the capacity to treat with them by
themselves or could benefit from additional external support in the aftermath of
events. We recall the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile. The recent effects of wind and
rain in Dominica, the Bahamas, Guatemala and the USA. These events were not
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about politics or about boundary but were about survival and in some areas
depended on emergency response at home and from abroad. This focus on
strengthened humanitarian emergency could be the start of a hemispheric defense
and security policy
To this end and in furtherance of the work of the Pro Tempore Secretariat, I want to take this
opportunity to urge member states which have not yet identified an official point of contact, through
which we could advance our planning for the Conference to please do so.
Distinguished representatives, I want to thank you for your keen attention and to reiterate our
intention to contribute to the hemispheric defense architecture as a result of the responsibility that
has been placed upon us in hosting this significant event.
I thank you.
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