By Garwin Davis, Assistant News Editor 
Rear Admiral Peter Brady
DR. PETER Phillips, Minister of National Security, yesterday announced plans for the establishment of a homeland-type security unit, aimed, he said, at protecting the country from threats both at home and abroad.
He advised that a team to be headed by Rear Admiral Peter Brady, retired Chief of Staff of the Jamaica Defence Force, had been mandated to develop a National Security Strategy (NSS), with the goal being to bring a number of national security-related departments now spread over numerous departments under one roof.
The Minister cited terrorism, the narcotics trade and organised crime as three of main threats to national security.
"This programme would bring about the participation of relevant Government agencies and civil society which have a contribution to make but are not formally recognised as part of the national security establishment," Dr. Phillips said.
"In so doing, we would be able to build a more cohesive national security network where stakeholders work in collaboration with each other."
The Minister was speaking at his Oxford Road, New Kingston office during a meeting with editors and senior journalists.
He noted that while the Customs Department was traditionally seen as a revenue collection agency, it had a key role to play in law enforcement. As such he said the Customs Department would be an important participant on the NSS team.
So too, the Registrar of Companies which has serious issues having to do with security as it relates to transactions regarding financial crimes. Also on board is the Immigration Department "considering they are the ones monitoring the flow of persons into and out of the island, and must be able to detect any criminal elements involved in narcotics trafficking," Phillips said.
When pressed on why it was necessary to put together the unit at this time, especially since the country had not faced a catastrophe resembling the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States which led that country to create its own department of homeland security, Dr. Phillips said it was "critical that the country do so now."
"The relevance for this NSS is justified when we look at the complex nature of our national security today. "The three main threats which we face are terrorism, which is a worldwide phenomenon; illegal narcotics flow - a major issue for us here in Jamaica and other organised criminal interests like extortion, murder, arms smuggling, and so on."
United States President George W. Bush created the Department of Homeland Security in the wake of the terrorist attacks on that country. There, most of the 22 government agencies -- including the Coast Guard, Customs Service and Border Patrol -- are pulled together under the umbrella of a single department committed to protecting the nation from terrorist attacks.
"Security against terrorism is most relevant for us here in Jamaica as the sensitive tourist industry must ensure the safe passage of foreigners into and through the country, and as such Jamaica cannot expose itself to any kind of terrorist strike against them by international terrorist organisations," Phillips said.
When asked about the costing, Dr. Phillips said that it wouldn't "take more than three million dollars for the consultations but beyond that I couldn't tell you as yet ...What I do know though is that despite the fiscal constraints we face, this is necessary."
Rear Admiral Brady said he was honoured to be chosen to put the programme together, adding that it was in the country's best interest to make national security and the protection of its citizens a major priority.
