2006 Speeches

Commissioning of the Trinidad and Tobago Canine Training Academy

May 3, 2006

Dr. Roy L. Austin
United States Ambassador
Trinidad and Tobago Canine Academy

Senator the Honorable Martin Joseph, Minister of National Security; Senator the Honorable Conrad Enil, Minister of Finance; Police Commissioner Trevor Paul; Comptroller of Customs and Excise, Mr. Fitzroy John; Mr. Anthony Piegaro, CEO of Consolidated Services Incorporated International; Media Representatives; Distinguished Guests

Good morning.

Last June, the U.S. Embassy began a program in collaboration with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to train four explosives detection handlers to work with four trained detection canines for the Police Force and Customs and Excise.  At the time, some were skeptical, claiming it was just another needless expense.  Eleven days later, the first of a string of bombs went off in Port of Spain.  The rest, as we say, is history.  Those first four canines and handlers, though not yet trained together, assisted in the bombing investigations.  There has been at least one drug bust in which one of these canines assisted recently.  Further, I understand that today’s graduating class took advantage of Carnival time not to jump up, but to conduct training exercises among the crowds.  I am certain that, with this first class fully trained and more classes to come, we will hear about how successful these dogs, and their handlers are at fighting crime.

The Government of the United States and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago entered into a fifty-fifty partnership to greatly expand the canine program.  Today, we commission the result that of collaboration:  the Trinidad and Tobago Canine Academy.  What better way of commissioning the Academy than by presenting credentials to the first class of seven handlers, two certified assistant instructors and one certified canine training instructor.  

In keeping with my government’s assistance philosophy, Trinidad and Tobago now has the capacity here, in country, to train law enforcement canines to international standards without further assistance.  You can now train dogs not only for the Police Force, but for all agencies that could benefit from highly-trained law enforcement canines.  I would like to point out that one of the assistant instructors is from the Customs and Excise Division, and that there have already been discussions for the Defense Force and Fire Service to enroll handlers in the academy.  Cooperation between our governments has lead to cooperation among T&T’s law enforcement agencies to help take on the crime scourge in this country.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the efforts of Mr. Anthony Piegaro of CSI International who conducted the training.  Thank you, sir, for your hard work.  I also must finally congratulate these newly minted dog handlers.  It’s been a long, hard 16 weeks of training, but, I hope, well worth it.  Thank you for your hard work; I’m certain you’ll do your country proud.

Thank you.