2007 Speeches

October 1, 2007

Dr. Roy L. Austin
United States Ambassador
Crisis Management Exercise 
Public Affairs Library 

Good morning and welcome to our bi-ennial Crisis Management Exercise here at U.S. Embassy Port of Spain. 

I extend a very special welcome to our invited guests from the Office of Disaster Preparedness, the Police Service, the Fire Service, the Canadian High Commission, and the Mexican Embassy.  We thank you for joining us today. 

This is the first time that we have conducted a crisis management exercise that incorporates representatives from organizations outside of the Embassy community.  A crucial aspect to responding to any future crisis in Trinidad and Tobago will most certainly be cooperation between our organizations.  We are honored to have you here with us today to think through these issues of crisis management and to share with us your insight and expertise.

I offer a special welcome to Ms. Ruth Abramson from the Crisis Management Training division.  I thank you for setting up this exercise and for being with us through the magic of Digital Video Conferencing.  We would have been pleased to host you here in Port of Spain and introduce you to a bit of “Trini” culture. We could have taken you out to sample the local roti, or perhaps to Maracas Bay for a bake and shark.  However, we are very excited to be one of the first posts to conduct this important training via DVC.

My schedule does not allow me to attend the entire exercise; but I look forward to hearing the feedback from Ms. Abramson, the DCM, and others afterward.

Let me inform you that we shall be the only recipients of the feedback provided by Ms. Abramson.  She will not be reporting any details of how prepared (or unprepared) we are to anyone in Washington.  This is a “no-fault” training exercise.  For these two days, there are no right and wrong answers.  The true value of this exercise is in the process itself; in working through, as a team, the various difficulties we may encounter if we were confronted with a crisis here in Trinidad & Tobago. 

The primary responsibility of our embassy is to take care of the welfare of our employees, American citizens present in Trinidad & Tobago, and to every extent possible, the people of this country who so graciously host us.  To fully realize this goal, we must take seriously the exercise in which we shall be engaged. I urge you to participate fully and energetically in this unique opportunity; to share your respective insights and experiences; and to work as a team to better prepare ourselves to effectively deal with any future crises.

Thank you again for attending, and enjoy the time we shall spend together!