-Published: Monday, November 18, 2019-




By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

U.S. Army helped with the construction of a school for the community of Alta Talamanca in the Province of Limón.

According to the Ministry of Security, materials required for the construction of the school were transported Friday with the help of U.S. Army helicopters. The airlift was from Limón International Airport to the town of Telire in Talamanca.

The U.S. Army assistance is part of the Peace Borders program. With this program, the authorities of the ministry attend both security needs in the area of border and indigenous communities.

Two U.S. Army helicopters will be carrying the necessary materials to assemble the school, as well as other humanitarian aid, to Telire in Talamanca through Tuesday, said the ministry, adding thanks to one of the most important partners in this initiative, the U.S. Embassy.

According to Allan Obando, director of the Border Police, during continuous patrols in border communities, "the officers realized that the needs of these people went beyond security because of the deficiencies they have in areas such as education, health, housing, employment and the most basic services. "

In the remote regions where the border police work there are populations with the lowest human development rates in the entire country, said the ministry in its statement.

A large part of the jurisdiction in charge of the border police is located in various territories of natives communities as Ngöbes, Guaymíes, Cabécares, Bribris, Terrabas and Teribes, in which are indigenous peoples with some of the highest percentages basic needs unresolved, said the ministry.

According to the ministry, the goal of the Peace Borders program is to develop an intervention in the community, school and family environment, strengthening skills to reduce drug use.

Another goal is to provide services that reduce extreme poverty, basic services and health.


Another recent support from the U.S. government to the Ministry of Security programs was celebrated Nov. 1 when police from diverse law enforcement organizations in the country finished two courses sponsored by the U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics Law Enforcement Affairs and developed by instructors of the National Police of Colombia.

According to the Judicial Investigating Organization, the first course was the administration of human resources and interviews. The four-week course and had the participation of 29 agents from the Judicial Investigation Organization, Border Police, Drug Control Police, Directorate of Intelligence and Security and the Ministry of Security.

"This training was important since, thanks to the instructors, Daniel Andrés Benjumea, Julián Felipe Chitiva and Oscar Oyola, the police in our country will be able to have better management of the information sources and a good application of the interviews they carry out," said the Judicial Investigating Organization

The other course was the command, direction and leadership presented over two weeks for judicial agents, Municipal Police and Legislative Assembly workers, among others.

"In this course, the participants learned to exercise better leadership within the area in which they work," said a statement. "This thanks to instructors Edilson de Jesús Gañan Arenas, Miguel Alberto Vargas García and Miguel Alejandro Linares Zipaquira."

According to the Judicial Investigation Organization, carrying out this type of training is important because it helps Costa Rican police officers to improve job performance and to provide quality work for citizens and the institution.


In another project The Bureau of International Narcotics Law Enforcement Affairs donated $413,496 for the remodeling and improvements in the polygon in La Reforma prison, located in the Province of Alajuela. The grant was channeled through the U.S. Embassy and announced Oct. 3.

"We offer our most sincere congratulations for completing the remodeling of the polygon in La Reforma," said U.S. Ambassador Sharon Day. "This is a critical piece of our joint efforts for improving the capacity of police officers."

According to Day, the polygon will be used not only as a basis for the training of the prison police officers but it will also be a joint training center for all police agencies in Costa Rica.

"It is a great asset for the country and represents only one of the many ways in which the United States is working with our Costa Rican partners to improve the prison system," said Day.

The donation was used for construction materials.

Apart from the materials, the U.S. Embassy also donates tools such as camelbacks, glasses, riot gloves, first aid cases, hats, bulletproof vests and machines for reviewing packages, among others, the embassy reported.

According to the Ministry of Security, in the polygon police officers can train virtually with high technology the use of firearms and procedures in cases of hostage-taking, among others.

The ministry architects designed the plans and carried out project management, and the prisoners were the labor force to build the polygon, said the ministry in its statement.

According to the ministry, the polygon is 544 square meters, has a theoretical training classroom, a space for virtual training, an armory and lanes for shooting practices. among other facilities.

The new polygon was inaugurated by Day, the minister of Justice and Peace, Marcia González, the Minister of Public Security, Michael Soto, and the director of the Penitentiary Police, Pablo Bertozzi.

 


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What other types of support, related to security, could the U.S. government gives to Costa Rica?  We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com