An OECS Commission workshop on border control management after a disaster was brought to a close on Oct. 6.

According to Dr. Clarence Henry of the OECS Commission, the workshop aimed to strengthen knowledge and understanding amongst border officials and support agencies when dealing with the principles of the free movement of OECS members. Also addressed was capacity shortfalls when dealing with the large movement of OECS nationals and other citizens within the OECS following a disaster.

The workshop will be implemented across the OECS territories, and highlight lessons learned from the aftermath of past disasters.

“In many ways we’ve learned from Hurricane Maria in 2017 which certainly devastated Dominica and post-disaster, led to large movements of Dominican nationals to several OECS countries,” Dr. Henry explained. “Many times those nationals, because of the extent of the disaster, were travelling undocumented and border officials had to determine how to identify those individuals and ensure that their rights are protected, because when those disasters happen, it creates opportunity for the most unpleasant situations like human trafficking activities and other unfortunate circumstances because of the disaster.”

The OECS workshop on cross border movement was financed by the European Union through the OECS RIGHT Project.