Photo By Joseph Vigil | New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez joins Gustavo Mata, minister of public security and...... read more read more
By Joseph Vigil, Chief of Public Affairs, New Mexico National Guard and 2nd Lt. Maria Del Rio, State Partnership Program Coordinator
SANTA FE, N.M - A delegation of top officials from the Republic of Costa Rica visited the New Mexico National Guard here last week to share ideas as part of National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program (SPP). The partnership, established in 2006, has continually grown stronger and provides a platform for government leaders and senior level leaders to collaborate on and develop best practices for national security, emergency management, disaster preparedness, law enforcement, field expedient medical information exchange, border security, counter drug support, drug demand reduction programs and education.
The delegation’s visit marked the 80th meeting between the two partners with each engagement meeting the needs of both countries – focusing on promoting defense, security cooperation, leadership, training and developing peace keeping operations capability. Each event allows the New Mexico National Guard and Costa Rican leadership to share dialogue on current and future security concerns in order for the SPP events and objectives to be guided into the areas that will make the biggest impact in the partnership’s shared security cooperation goals.
Over the course of three days, Gustavo Mata, Minister of Public Security; Robin Matthewman, Deputy Chief of Mission in Costa Rica; Col. Oldemar Madrigal, Director of Air Surveillance; Col. Martin Arias, Director of the Coast Guard; and the Honorable Alan Solana, Director of Drug Police, spoke with top New Mexico officials. New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, Brig. Gen. Andrew Salas, the Adjutant General of New Mexico; Jay Mitchell, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security; Gregg Marcental, Secretary of Corrections and other Army and Air Guard leaders led discussions with the delegation and toured various resources the New Mexico National Guard can provide to Costa Rica for future annual subject matter expert exchanges.
Governor Martinez proclaimed July 29, 2015 as ‘New Mexico and Costa Rica Partnership Day,’ affirming the good ties and relations between both partners. The Governor also presented the delegation with a New Mexico flag that was flown over the state capitol and the National Guard headquarters in honor of the delegation’s visit and to recognize the partnership, cooperation and friendship between partners.
“It is our pleasure to work together, having the same goals in mind with the understanding that we are tackling the same problems to keep the people of Costa Rica and the United States safe,” Martinez said. “I know we will accomplish that mission, especially with the expertise and great camaraderie we have here.”
Salas welcomed and introduced the delegation to New Mexico Soldiers and employees at a ceremony at the Onate Military Complex parade field.
Salas said that Costa Rica and New Mexico have many similarities - strong democracies, free markets and freedom. “They are a very humble people. Their emphasis is on faith, family and community; just like the people of New Mexico,” Salas said. “They protect what is rightfully theirs to make sure their children have a good place to grow up and have a good future.”
While Costa Rica is one of the smallest countries in the region, they accomplish the majority of drug seizures coming to the U.S., Salas said, and what is remarkable is they accomplish that without a military.
The partnership with Costa Rica is very unique in that Costa Rica has not had a military force since 1948. Still, the program supports ambassadors’ mission strategic plans and SPP goals as well as combatant commanders’ theater campaign plans.
“The problems of security and safety don’t go away just because there is no military, so it falls in the hands of patriots like these here to develop the resources to keep their people safe from crime and criminal organizations,” Salas said. “The partnership we have with them is designed to strengthen their institutions.”
The attendance of Matthewman shows the commitment of the U.S. Embassy to the SPP and New Mexico. She joined Minister Mata to share in the signing of commitment and recognition of the value of the relationship, friendship and the important mission of the SPP between New Mexico and Costa Rica.
Matthewman described the SPP as a full range of partnership and collaboration with an emphasis to work on security, prosperity, cultural and environmental issues, and educational issues.
“This partnership between the New Mexico National Guard and the Ministry of Public Security in Costa Rica is a really important part of building ties - helping with collaboration on a variety of issues from disasters to preparedness to border police - which you all do so well and they do well, so you are learning from each other,” Matthewman said. “Today’s visit is to discuss what is going to happen in the coming year with the program which will include field visits with more in-depth discussion.”
Mata said it is a great honor for him and the directors of all the main forces of Costa Rican to be here in partnership with the New Mexico National Guard. “Costa Rica is very similar to New Mexico. The people here are very friendly and that is what I felt when I first stepped on the ground here,” Mata said. “I really feel like I am back home.”
Mata described the Costa Rica of 20 years ago - a very peaceful place to live, just like New Mexico.
“Then we started seeing the appearance of the Colombian cartels,” Mata said. “Costa Rica, because of its geographical location, is a main route for cocaine coming north. We also noticed a few years ago Mexican cartels showing up as well, looking for ways to reduce their costs of transporting cocaine up north. People started seeing there was money in cocaine so some local people started their own cocaine businesses. Now we have Colombian, Mexican and Costa Rican entities dealing cocaine.”
As a result of the cocaine business, Mata said that homicides have increased as well, costing his country much blood shed. And while the drug business pays good money to local Costa Ricans, they pay with cocaine as well, so we have a large amount of cocaine staying in the country. With that, Costa Ricans now see a lot of our youth using cocaine and marijuana, which is trafficked through here by Jamaican sources, Mata said.
Costa Rica continues to fight the drug problem, seizing over 74 tons of cocaine this past year. Mata said that is possible through the great partnership he has with his directors and with the U.S. Government. But the fight gets tougher, he acknowledges, with over 124 tons of cocaine estimated to head north this year. It is a never-ending job, Mata said, and that is why these joint operations are so important.
“You are a very established and successful organization with great resources so I come to you to ask for your help and cooperation now more than ever,” Mata said. “Our logistical support is very small with our air and sea equipment being limited which is a huge concern to maintain security in our country. Costa Rica has shown that we are willing to work hard and are one of the best in countering drug trafficking in the region. You can imagine the work we can do if we get the resources needed to do our job.”
Mata said we share a common problem in that our kids are being exposed to drugs at a younger age and we need to do something about it now. “There is no doubt in my mind that with the relationship we have with you guys, we will be able to accomplish lots,” Mata said.
| Date Taken: | 07.29.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 08.10.2015 11:02 |
| Story ID: | 172644 |
| Location: | SANTA FE, NM, US |
| Hometown: | SAN JOSE, SJ, CR |
| Web Views: | 225 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Cooperation, collaboration and mutual exchange of ideas the strength behind unique partnership between Costa Rica and the New Mexico National Guard, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT