Two officers from the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) have completed specialised maritime security training in the United States, gaining skills intended to strengthen the Police Marine Unit’s ability to identify and respond to threats at sea.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Reece Auguste and Sergeant 271 Shawn Delice completed the five-day Maritime Security Policy Course, held from September 21 to 25, 2026, through the William J. Perry Centre for Hemispheric Defence Studies in Norfolk, Virginia.
According to the RSLPF, the training covered maritime surveillance, threat assessment, maritime law enforcement, inter-agency cooperation and strategies for responding to maritime threats.
The course brought together 41 participants from 19 countries across the Caribbean, Central America and South America to examine maritime security challenges and the protection of national maritime interests.
Other topics included maritime domain awareness – the ability to monitor and understand activities in a country’s maritime area – as well as strategic waterways, riverine security, maritime commerce, illicit maritime activities and maritime security operations. Participants also examined emerging security issues in the Arctic and Antarctic regions and engaged with representatives of the United States Navy and Coast Guard.
The RSLPF said the knowledge gained is particularly relevant to the Police Marine Unit’s responsibilities, including maritime surveillance, fisheries enforcement, protecting coastal and marine resources, detecting illicit maritime activities and securing ports and coastal areas.
The Force said the training is expected to support the unit’s work and strengthen collaboration with national, regional and international maritime security partners.
Auguste and Delice are expected to share their knowledge and experience with colleagues and apply what they have learned to improve the operational effectiveness of the Police Marine Unit and the RSLPF’s wider maritime security efforts.
