Belize, U.S. to co-host regional security conference on illicit trafficking
The Belize Defence Force and United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) will co-host the 2011 Central American Security Conference (CENTSEC) in San Pedro, Belize, May 4-5, 2011.
The two-day conference will focus on strategies, objectives, implementation, and resources supporting counter illicit trafficking operations in the region.
A dozen countries from Central America, North America, South America and the Caribbean have been invited to participate, as well as representatives from the Conference of Central American Armed Forces (CFAC), Central American Integration System (SICA), and senior leaders from the U.S. State Department, U.S Northern Command, and the Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies.
Brig. Gen. Dario Tapia, Commander of the Belize Defence Force, and U.S. Air Force Gen. Douglas Fraser, SOUTHCOM commander, will welcome participants to the annual regional event.
CENTSEC is one of three regional security conferences sponsored by SOUTHCOM each year to provide forums for dialogue and exchanges among defense and security leaders from the Caribbean, Central America and South America.
This year’s CENTSEC follows the 2011 Caribbean Nations Security Conference co-hosted by SOUTHCOM and the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force in Port of Spain Feb. 23-24.
Developed jointly with participating nations from the region, The Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) will focus regional cooperation on reducing illicit trafficking, increasing public safety and security, and promoting social justice.
