Beginning this month, the Government of Canada, through the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), will be providing ion-mobility spectrometry (IMS) technology, and related training to Customs officials in Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Guyana, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, and St Vincent & the Grenadines. This latest partnership between Canada and the six Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries is aimed at enhancing border security in advance of the Cricket World Cup 2007. The equipment will be deployed to high risk and high volume ports of entry over a six-week period. Training will be provided to approximately 120 customs officials on the use and maintenance of the technology as well as on the identification of narcotics and explosives and response procedures. “The provision of this technology represents a further Canadian contribution to safety and security in the Caribbean region,” said High Commissioner of Canada to Guyana, Charles Court. The IMS technology will assist Customs officials in conducting fast, effective, non-intrusive inspections of high-risk travelers, conveyances and commercial shipments. “Preparations for the Cricket World Cup have offered a significant opportunity to strengthen our bilateral cooperation. Canada will continue to seek ways to promote a comprehensive approach to enhancing security in Guyana and the region,” Court stated. Canada has been using this type of technology since 1995 resulting in numerous drug seizures. The technology has been in use since 2006 for explosives. Reprinted from Caribbean Net News caribbeannetnews.com