Caribbean Times 89th Issue - Friday 9th September 2016

6 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g
Friday 9th September 2016
CDF team visits Antigua and Barbuda
A team from the CAR-
ICOM Development Fund
is in Antigua and Barbuda to
discuss the status of the projects
that are being financed by
the agency.
Led by CDF’s Chief Executive
Officer, Rodinald Soomer,
the team also includes the
Director for Regional Development,
Lenox Forte, and
Programme Specialist, Errol
Babb.
On Thursday, the team attended
a meeting of the Project
Management Committee
By Joanna Paris
The government of Antigua and Barbuda
is committed to putting the necessary measures
in place to ensure that the country’s
Forensic Cyber Lab, becomes a center of excellence
within the Caribbean.
Attorney General, the Hon. Steadroy
“Cutie” Benjamin, top members of the Police
Force of Antigua and Barbuda, the Head
of the Forensic Lab, Gordina Hector-Murrell
and other specialized officers met on Thursday
to discuss how this can be achieved.
Minister Benjamin commended Hector-Murrell
for the excellent work that she
has been doing to date.
He noted that the Head of the Forensic
Chaired by Ambassador Dr.
Clarence Henry to discuss the
CDF Country Assistance Programme
at the Office of the
National Authorising Officer.
“We are here primarily
for two reasons; firstly to
pay a courtesy call on the
Prime Minister, Hon. Gaston
Browne to discuss matters of
mutual interest relating to the
CDF’s assistance to Antigua
and Barbuda, especially now
that we are in the second cycle
of our operation,” he stated.
He said the second reason
is that it provides an opportunity
for an exchange of views
with key stakeholders on how
Antigua and Barbuda would
like to see its relationship with
the CDF within the context of
how to better integrate into
“the CARICOM Single Market
and Economy (CSME)
which is the core mandate of
the CDF”.
While here, Soomer, who
has been in the position for
approximately a year, said he
is also familiarizing himself
More focus to be placed
on Forensic Cyber Lab
Lab is recognized all over the region as a
highly qualified and trained individual in her
field of work.
The Minister pledged his government’s
support to provide the necessary equipment
necessary, the Lab to run smoothly.
Efforts will also be placed, on finding a
new home for the lab where officers will be
able to operate in a well-controlled and spacious
environment.
The pledge by the Minister was welcomed
by all participants.
Head of the Forensic Lab Gordina Hector-Murrell
said without the necessary
equipment and software technology, the facility
cannot function to its fullest.
with the two projects which
the CDF financed in this first
cycle. They are the improvements
to downtown St John’s
including the taxi dispatch
area, and the Learning Resource
Centre at the Antigua
State College.
“We just came out of a
PMC meeting that focused
on the progress of the two
projects and we have made
some decisions that will lead
to the acceleration of the implementation
of both projects,”
he noted. During the
exchanges Ambassador Henry
welcomed the CEO and
expressed satisfaction with
the cooperation. “The CDF
remains a proactive agency
on the infrastructure projects
and we began the first stage of
the identification of new programmes
to be pursued in the
second cycle,” he observed.
Among the stakeholders
present were the CEO of
the St. John’s Development
Corporation, Principal of
the State College, Chairman
of the Board of Education,
President of the Antigua and
Barbuda Cruise Tourism Association,
the Ministries of
Tourism, Finance and Education.