U.S. Officers Train Mauritian Counterparts

Port Louis, July 2, 2012:

A team of the U.S. Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS) was in Mauritius last week to train 29 officers in maritime operational law, security and enforcement. U.S. military officers shared their knowledge and experience with Mauritian officers from the Ministry of Fisheries, the National Coast Guard, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Mauritius Oceanography Institute and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Land Transport & Shipping. Topics covered during this five-day training program included combating terrorism at sea, piracy and armed robbery against ships, rules on the use of force, handling of suspected piracy cases after capture and collection of evidence as well as workshops on coastal security and law of the sea convention.

The seminar was entirely funded by the U.S. Government, to the tune of about USD 57 000 (approximately Rs 1.7 million). DIILS resource persons, detached from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Air Force aimed at helping the different Mauritian agencies and departments involved in maritime security and enforcement programs understand each other’s role. The seminar also strived to underscore the importance of inter-agency work, synergy and communication in efforts to thwart maritime threats. U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Troy Fitrell, who attended the graduating ceremony of the 29 participants, recalled that such programs are at the core of bilateral relations between Mauritius and the U.S.

It is to be noted that 68 Mauritian officers have benefitted U.S.-sponsored training programs in 2010, 74 in 2011 and 41 to date in 2012. Such security cooperation programs will continue to sponsor professionals to attend various courses and seminars in Mauritius and abroad.  These will include courses on maritime security, anti-piracy, human rights, international intelligence, and developing aviation capacity.