MINISTRY OF NATIONAL SECURITY Corporate Communications Unit

WELCOME REMARKS BY PERMANENT SECRETARY MINISTRY OF NATIONAL SECURITY MRS. JENNIFER BOUCAUD-BLAKE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY FOR THE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT EXCHANGE (CI SMEE) WORSHOP

DATE: JULY 9, 2013 TIME: 8:30 AM VENUE: US EMBASSY, BRIAR PLACE, PORT-OF-SPAIN

Salutations Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs, US Charge d Affairs Mr Thomas Smitham, Our specially invited guest members of the United States Subject Matter Expert Exchange Scoping Team, Brigadier (retd) Carl Alfonso, Director National Security Training Academy, Colonel Lyle Alexander, Commanding Officer Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Reserve, Captain Corey Walters Deputy Chief Office of Security Cooperation US Embassy, Trinidad & Tobago, the Energy Sector Security Initiative Leadership Team Ladies and gentlemen, members of the media

A pleasant good morning to you all. On behalf of the Honourable Minister of National Security, Senator Emmanuel George and members of the Energy Sector Security Initiative (ESSI) I would like to welcome you, the subject matter experts from the Departments of Energy and Homeland Security, the National Training Centre and the Delaware National Guard. I would like to thank the US Military Liaison Office and US SOUTHCOM for making this visit possible. Trinidad and Tobago remains one of the largest energy suppliers in the world, being among the top producers of ammonia, methanol, natural gas and urea. Consequently, the energy sector has been for several years the mainstay of the economy, accounting for o ver 40% of the countrys Gross Domestic Product in 2012. Trinidad and Tobago has a mature energy industry with several domestic and international companies operating in the

up, mid and downstream subsectors. Given the value of the energy sector to the nations economy and development, it is critical that a concerted effort is made to ensure the greater protection of the industry and this has been the focus of the ESSI. The principal focus of the ESSI is to create a sustainable mechanism to prevent, mitigate, prepare for, respond to and recover from all possible threats and vulnerabilities which have the potential to disrupt or destroy Trinidad and Tobagos energy sector. The Initiative was formed as collaboration between the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and public and private sector owners and operators in the energy sector. It provides the strategic direction for the security and safety of Trinidad and Tobagos energy sector. Its strategic objective is the prevention and mitigation of any unwanted occurrences within the energy sector. As such, the Initiative is intended to ensure that Trinidad and Tobagos energy-based resources and assets are effectively protected against activities that could result in major disruptions occasioned through wilful intent, accidents or natural disasters. It is without doubt that such occurrences could result in major losses to life and property. In addition, relationships with major trading partners could be seriously impaired, resulting in debilitating effects on the nations social and economic security. It is critical therefore that the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (GORTT) commits to creating an environment to pre-empt any such eventualities. The objectives of the ESSI and this visit by subject matter experts include:

 Ensure critical energy infrastructure protection and provide a secure energy sector environment Maintain/ Manage a network arrangement for information sharing and mutual assistance agencies Build lasting relationships and sustainable agreements and processes that would enable early detection, prevention and response to threats and hazards Develop and maintain competencies and capabilities to detect, prevent, mitigate, respond to and recover from all possible threats and hazards against our nations energy resources This visit is a follow up to the Subject Matter Expert Exchange which took place in December 2012 and it is hoped that at the end of the four days the objectives identified in December would have been met. We will meet over the next few days to understand how we can better protect our critical energy infrastructure, understand how to draft MOUs and identify programmes which will help us build capacity in Trinbagonians so that they can pass their knowledge, training and experience on to the following generations of energy sector security practitioners. In closing I wish to again thank the team for making the time to come and assist us, to thank the organisers for making the visit possible and wish participants a productive two days. I thank you. between Government and non-governmental