VP Faure opens Eastern African police chiefs AGM |29 August 2013

Vice-President Danny Faure yesterday officially opened the 15th annual general meeting of police chiefs and senior police force members from Eastern Africa taking place at the International Conference Centre.

Vice-President Faure was the chief guest at the Eastern African Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (EAPCCO) Annual General Meeting (AGM) which Seychelles, also a member, is this year hosting.
Since Sunday Seychelles Police has welcomed delegates of the EAPCCO to a series of eight sub- committee meetings leading up to yesterday’s opening of the AGM.

Over 60 police commissioners and other senior officers and Interpol representatives are attending the meetings.

Interpol’s secretary general, Ronald Noble, had to cancel his presence at the meeting following the sudden death of Interpol’s Richard Tembo, the body’s regional officer in Harare.

Addressing guests who included Chief Justice Fredrick Egonda-Ntende, attorney general Ronny Govinden, members of the diplomatic corps, MNAs and police officers, VP Faure said this annual event which brings together stakeholders from EAPCCO member states is an occasion to review and assess initiatives and activities that have been accomplished or are in progress.
 
“It is also a time to rethink strategies and plan ahead as a team on how to better combat the scourge of crime and violence in our respective countries and in the region as a whole,” the VP said.
VP Faure noted that it can be observed worldwide that violence and crime are today taking new forms and the list of victims is growing at an alarming rate.  

“While some forms of violence, like armed conflicts, seem to have declined, others like criminal violence are developing and presenting a grave destabilising threat to society while posing a major challenge to our law enforcement agencies,” he said.

He pointed out that we are also being faced with emerging crime challenges with perpetrators using innovative modes of operation with potential to target victims internationally, using highly sophisticated technologies and other communication means.   

Mr Faure commended the police chiefs for “realising that it is of paramount importance to have adequate fighting power, to be armed with well developed resources, to be equipped with up to date knowledge and to build strong partnerships and share coordinated and harmonised crime prevention and management programmes”.  

Adding to that Mr Faure said it is pleasing to note that “as a close knit group, you have strengthened your communication networks thus enhancing the ability to exchange intelligence crucial to successful regional operations”.

“But you have also recognised that there is still a lot to be done in sustaining what has been achieved to forge new cooperation and pool resources as a region to really make a breakthrough in addressing modern day hi-tech crimes and ensure the freedom and security of the countries in the region,” added VP Faure.

It is to be noted that during their sub-committee meetings the police chiefs have reviewed their achievements and successes and discussed ways to address shortcomings and challenges.

Police Commissioner Ernest Quatre said the delegates have had intense but fruitful discussions over the past few days and these will continue until tomorrow.

He noted that VP Faure’s presence at the meeting demonstrated Seychelles government commitment to the work of the organisation and the importance it attaches to fighting transnational crimes.

At yesterday’s opening ceremony Commissioner Quatre received the EAPCCO flag from the outgoing EAPCCO chairperson, Ugandan police chief Kale Kayihura. Mr Quatre will now hold the organisation’s chairmanship for one year.

Before handing over the flag in a symbolic and significant gesture, Mr Kayihura highlighted the success and challenges of his one-year tenure in office.

He noted that he had tried and succeeded in bringing the police chiefs together for several meetings, capacity-building activities, field exercise in an area of crime.
He thanked member states for their commitment to the organisation and Interpol for its continued support.

In his acceptance speech Mr Quatre said he is privileged to accept this position of high responsibility but admitted it is a challenging one. But he assured his colleagues that he will try to the best of his ability to discharge his responsibilities with their support.