1. The RSS provides for the planning and execution of exercises and training with assistance from time to time from the USA and the UK authorities. Emphasis is placed on drug-related courses which encompasses land base and maritime training. Land training or para-military training, geared towards the Police Special Service Units is conducted in Barbados or any other Member State as deemed necessary, whilst maritime training is done at the RSS Training Unit in Antigua.

Some of the courses conducted by the RSS are:


a. Land Training Basic Course Leaders Instructors Small Arms Command & Staff Course Disaster Preparation

b. Coast Guard Training Basic Seamanship Board and Rummage Training Maritime Law Enforcement Basic Engineering Search & Rescue CG Operations 920 RHIB Operators Rates Leadership

Annually, an exercise, known as “Exercise TRADEWINDS”, is conducted in conjunction with the USA, the UK and other Caribbean Forces to test the capabilities of the forces to work together.

2. Disaster Response:

The RSS through the CLO coordinates disaster response on behalf of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) by the activation of a special body of men and women known as the Caribbean Disaster Relief Unit (CDRU). The Unit consists of members of the Defence and Police Forces of the CARICOM countries.

3. Operations:

Since its inception, the RSS has taken part in the following operations:

a. 1983 - The Grenada Intervention Operation

b. 1989 - Hurricane HUGO in Antigua, St. Kitts and Nevis and Montserrat

c. 1990 - The aftermath of the attempted Coup in Trinidad and Tobago

d. 1994 - St Kitts and Nevis – Internal Security (Prison uprising situation)

e. 1995 – Hurricanes LUIS and MARILYN in Antigua and St. Kitts and Nevis

f. 1998 – Hurricane GEORGES in St. Kitts and Nevis

g. 1998 - St Vincent and the Grenadines - Operation WEEDEATER (eradication of cannabis)

h. 2003 - St Lucia – Operation BORDELAIS (Transfer of prisoners to new prison)

i. 2004 - Grenada - Hurricane Ivan Relief Efforts

j. 2006 - Barbados - Prison Uprising at Glendairy

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CHANGING ROLE OF RSS

With the end of the cold war and the reduction of external threats to Member States, the role of the RSS has evolved to encompass training for joint land and maritime operations, disaster relief, search and rescue, anti-drug operations and of more recent times, anti–terrorism and intelligence gathering and sharing. As such the RSS has been assisting with the establishment of National Joint Headquarters in each RSS Member State whose role is to assist with inter-agency coordination and dissemination of information to support the Maritime and Law Enforcement Agencies especially in the area of anti-drug operations. The NJHQs serve as a focal point for joint operations between the Police, Customs, Immigration, Coast Guard and Defence Force assets.

The threat of external aggression or destabilization, once seen as a problem, is now almost non-existent and Member States are no longer concerned with the threat of external military aggression from any of its neighbours, but rather with the more pervasive influence of narco-trafficking, terrorism, crime and their consequential impact on civil society. The increase in crime is aggravated by the influx of criminal deportees from the United States of America, United Kingdom, Canada and other developed countries and by the availability of illegal firearms. Within this new paradigm, the primary purpose of the RSS remains the security and stability of the region.

The changing role of the RSS speaks directly to the forging of strategic links with other regional and International actors, since the fight against terrorism, crime, narco-trafficking and problems of money laundering cannot be fought successfully by any one nation. The Caribbean lies strategically between the major drug producing and consuming nations and can therefore be described as a first line of international defence. The response of Caribbean nations is hindered by limited resources, therefore to make any significant impact on the crimes mentioned, it requires a concerted effort from all States of the international community.

The RSS exists and is seen to exist as an example to the region and to the wider international communities that small island states are aware of potential security and disaster threats and are prepared to act in order to counter and respond to them. It is therefore a credible deterrent which has provided security and stability for its Member States.

OPERATIONAL UNITS

The key components of the RSS are the Coast Guards and the Special Services Unit. Coast Guards are units of the Police forces except in Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda and St. Kitts and Nevis where they are Units of the Defence Forces.

Each Police Force has a paramilitary unit know as the Special Services Unit (SSU). In Barbados, it is known as the Task Force and in Antigua and Barbuda, as the Special Patrol Group.

The CLO coordinates paramilitary training for these units which are expected to deal with crises beyond the capacity to the regular Police.

Basic Course

Basic Engineering

CHANGING ROLE OF RSS

OPERATIONAL UNITS