Ambassador Anne S. Andrew
Closing Remarks
Golfito Ship Visit-USS Navy Ship DOYLE
December 10, 2010
President Laura Chinchilla and her Administration placed security at the top of their agenda in 2010. President Obama’s directive to me as Ambassador makes clear that citizen security is one of my Government’s and my top priorities.
Success against the present threats to regional security will come from working together in partnership to safeguard our sovereign territories, protect our citizens and contribute to a better quality of life for our people.
The Legislators are key to this partnership and play an essential role in these operations to protect our citizens. The U.S. applauds the ongoing legislative reforms being considered by legislators to build capacity for pursuing narco-traffickers and their financial base.
I want to emphasize that the United States is committed to this partnership with Costa Rica. In the last three years, the United States has provides over $30 millions of security-related assistance to Costa Rica:
carrying out operations against narco-traffickers; training Costa Rican law enforcement officials in drug interdiction; supplying equipment to Costa Rican law enforcement officials; and implementing youth programs.
Let me highlight several current programs: With CARSI funds, we have been working in close partnership with the Ministry of Security and the Miami-Boston Group on a four-year police capacity enhancement training program to assist the Ministry and the Fuerza Publica.
We are also working with the Ministry of Public Security on a container analysis and inspection program at the Caribbean Port of Limon and the eastern Pacific Port of Caldera.
Within this overall framework, another valuable program is the Costa Rican-U.S. joint maritime patrols. It is an example of how the U.S. supports Costa Rica on counternarcotics projects designed to reduce the flow of illegal narcotics and other contraband through Costa Rica and its territorial waters.
In addition, we anticipate the opening of the new Coast Guard Station in Caldera come the New Year. This station, with its new command center, barracks, floating pier, and renovated maintenance facility, will offer the Coast Guard improved access to the sea for its patrol boats and a permanent presence in the principal commercial port on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast. Not only will this improve drug interdiction capability, but the Coast Guard will now be better positioned to rescue mariners in distress, enforce fishing regulations, and safeguard Costa Rica’s rich marine ecosystems for future generations.
I have mentioned programs that strengthen interdiction efforts. Yet we recognize that it is the drug trafficking organizations that are the driving forces behind the sharp deterioration in security that Central America has seen in recent years. To stop and then reverse this trend, we must disrupt and dismantle the criminal organizations.
Building capacity within the judiciary are keys to disrupting and dismantling. To assist the government of Costa Rica in such efforts, my government has assigned here a former prosecutor from New York who specializes in uncovering money laundering and other economic crimes and we will invest more in building judicial capacity in 2011.
Another critical aspect is increasing efforts to prevent young people from getting involved in drugs and crime. In October, we worked closely with Costa Rican authorities to sponsor a week-long event here in Golfito, reaching 1,985 youth who voiced their resolve to say no to drugs. In addition, we just announced grants of $800,000 to four NGOs to offer vocational training and other opportunities to youth in some of the toughest communities in the country. Youth need to have alternatives to getting involved in crime. My government is proud to be a partner in these efforts.
Let me conclude by saying that the U.S. is confident in our partnership with Costa Rica. The United States believes in investing in sustainable relationships and sustainable programs. Costa Rica has shown repeatedly that it uses U.S. government assistance effectively to improve its capability to achieve its goals, including the success that the Joint Maritime Program has yielded. The United States is committed to citizen security, strengthening our joint cooperation, and building capabilities here in Costa Rica in the interest of protecting a nation’s most valued resource: our citizens.
Drug trafficking and organized crime are the driving forces behind the sharp deterioration in security that Central America has seen in recent years. To stop and then reverse this trend, we must dismantle the criminal organizations and we must increase efforts to prevent young people from getting involved in drugs and crime.
The United States recognizes that prevention is another essential component of our efforts. In just the past month, we worked closely with Costa Rican authorities to hold a week-long event right here in Golfito. It was the largest ever, reaching 1,985 youth who voiced their resolve to say no to drugs. In addition, we just announced grants to four NGOs to offer vocational training and other opportunities to youth in some of the toughest communities in the country. Youth need to have alternatives to getting involved in crime, and they must have safe ways to get themselves out of poverty. My government is proud to be a partner in these efforts.
We are confident in our partnership with Costa Rica. Costa Rica has shown repeatedly that it uses U.S. government assistance effectively to improve its capability to achieve its goals. The United States believes in investing in sustainable relationships and sustainable programs. We have already seen the success that the Joint Maritime Program has yielded. The United States is committed to citizen security, strengthening our joint cooperation and building our capabilities in the interest of protecting our most valued resource: the citizens of both of our countries.
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