Shelly-Ann Thompson, Freelance Writer

Senior security officers in the island, including three assistant commissioners of police (ACP), participated in a 13-day security and strategic study training programme in China last month.

The training in China, which commenced on December 8 through to December 20, was part of the National Security Master's programme at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona.

Lieutenant Colonel Garfield Prendergast, one of the trainees, said the experience was extremely valuable.

"It was just about how China deals with national security in a strategic way," said Lt. Col. Prendergast. "We were exposed to some frank discussions about China's view of national threats, how to deal with those threats as well as dealing with the economy."

Practicum study

Dr. Hilton McDavid, academic director of the master's programme at the UWI, told The Gleaner that the practicum study exposed the students to China's economic and developmental affairs.

"The programme is to educate and provide these senior security officers and managers with the tools to reach the top of the ladder in their careers," said Dr. McDavid.

A total of 19 students travelled to China including ACP Clifford Blake; ACP Owen Ellington; ACP Denver Frater; Lt. Col. Prendergast; Lt. Col. Derrick Robinson; Major Milton Neath; Christopher Kerr-Caldie, of the Civil Aviation Authority; Wayne Clarke, of Guardsman Security Limited; and Lieutenant Colonel Stewart Sanders, as faculty assistant, along with Dr. McDavid.

"In terms of tackling security issues in Jamaica, this knowledge from the training will add to our body of knowledge when we tackle local programmes," said Lt. Col. Prendergast.

"How they (Chinese security personnel) prioritise their development programme which is now experiencing tremendous growth. They also gave an insight of how they prioritise developmental and national security threats," added Lt. Col. Prendergast.

The practicum study was conducted at the College of Defence Studies, National Defence University of the People's Liberation Army, by senior top-level lecturers in China's economical development and reform, national environmental security, international security, and the country's defence policies.

Dr. McDavid said this quorum of students were the first graduates of the master's programme.

The master's degree was designed specifically for senior managers of the security forces, private security companies, the Ministry of National Security and Foreign Affairs, and could also include tourism.

The practicum study was funded by the Chinese Government based on requests from the master's programme at UWI through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.