Map of St. Kitts & Nevis

ZIZ News...08 10 09...Updating officers’ skills is one of the best ways to improve and maintain comprehensive border security, according to Sgt. Alicia Huggins of the Immigration Department, who is stationed at St. Kitts’ main port of entry, RLB International Airport.

Sgt. Huggins is one of two officers who recently received training in the Border Control Security System, an exercise that was jointly offered by Caricom IMPACS and US Homeland Security, and which took place in Jamaica last month.

“The Train the Trainer exercise, afforded me not only the skills,” she said, “but the opportunity to share information and cutting-edge techniques, with colleagues.”

She insists that the best defense is a functional offence, stating “Border securities throughout the world are facing intense technological challenges that are advancing daily.

St.Kitts international airport

“So, in order to protect our people and our borders, we must prepare to meet and overcome our challenges by keeping abreast of any information, technology and methodology that would transform our efforts into an exact science.”

More than 12 Immigration Officers in St. Kitts were trained by Sgt. Huggins in Document Recognition, last week.

“This training intends to improve the skills of Border Security Officers,” she said, “particularly in the detection of fraudulent documents such as IDs, money, and legal travel documents such as licenses and birth certificates.”

Sgt. Huggins intends to continue her exercise by training officers in Nevis, when she travels there next week.