GRENADA ASSUMES VICE-CHAIR OF OAS’ ANTI-TERRORISM COMMITTEE

WASHINGTON, D.C. March 18, 2010 - Grenada has assumed the Vice-Chair of the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE) of the Organisation of American States (OAS). Nominated by Chile and the United States, Grenada was accepted unanimously to this leadership position on March 17. Bahamas, represented by Minister for National Security Tommy Turnquest, was elected as Chair, providing joint CARICOM leadership at the helm of the regional counter-terrorism body. The vice-chair automatically becomes the unopposed candidate for the CICTE chair in 2011. In her acceptance remarks, Ambassador Gillian Bristol said that Grenada looks forward to working closely with the Chair, Members and the Secretariat in furtherance of their common endeavour. "Grenada undertakes this role in support of the Chair and welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the imperative of denying terrorism any place in our Hemisphere,” she said. “Grenada intends to fulfil the trust placed in it, bringing its own experience in national security, sub-regional cooperation within the ambit of CARICOM, multilateral partnership such as within this Committee and other fora, as well as international collaboration”. Other members of Grenada's delegation include Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, Mr. Phillip Alexander, and Ms. Patricia Clarke, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Grenada in Washington D.C.