Embassy of Colombia donates sporting items to Immigration Detention Centre

Bilateral relations between Colombia and Trinidad strengthen as The Ministry of National Security receives sporting items as a donation, thanks to the Embassy of the Republic of Colombia for the Immigration Detention Centre. Details follow in this press release from the Ministry of Security:

The Ministry of National Security has received a donation of sporting items from the Embassy of the Republic of Colombia for the Immigration Detention Centre (IDC).

Permanent Secretary (Ag.) in the Ministry of National Security Ms. Nataki Atiba-Dilchan accepted the items on behalf of the Ministry of National Security from Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Colombia, Her Excellency Martha Cecilia Pinilla Perdomo.

From left to right: (Front-row seated) Chief Immigration Officer, Ms. Charmaine Gandhi-Andrews; Permanent Secretary (Ag.) in the Ministry of National Security, Ms. Nataki Atiba-Dilchan; Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Colombia, Her Excellency Martha Cecilia Pinilla Perdomo. (Back row) Deputy Director, International Affairs Unit, Ministry of National Security, Major (Ret’d) Richard Lynch; Second Secretary in Charge of Consular Affairs at the Embassy of the Republic of Colombia, Ms. Liz Carolina Lozano Garzon; First Secretary, Diplomatic Liaison for Security Affairs and Cooperation at the Embassy of the Republic of Colombia, Ms. Andrea Diaz; Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Republic of Colombia, Ms. Heidi Ariadne Cortes Acosta; Deputy Administrator, Immigration Detention Centre (IDC), Mr. Sheldon Walker; and Assistant Manager IDC, Mr. James Chance.

Permanent Secretary Atiba-Dilchan expressed gratitude to Ambassador Pinilla Perdomo for the donation, which both parties noted was indicative of the cordial bilateral relationship between the two countries.

The brief Handover Ceremony was held at the Ministry of National Security’s Head Office, Temple Court 1, Abercromby Street, Port of Spain.

Also in attendance were the Embassy of the Republic of Colombia’s Deputy Head of Mission, Ms. Heidi Ariadne Cortes Acosta; First Secretary, Diplomatic Liaison for Security Affairs and Cooperation, Ms. Andrea Diaz; Second Secretary in Charge of Consular Affairs, Ms. Liz Carolina Lozano Garzon; as well as Chief Immigration Officer, Ms. Charmaine Gandhi-Andrews; Deputy Administrator, IDC, Mr. Sheldon Walker; Assistant Manager IDC, Mr. James Chance; and Deputy Director, International Affairs Unit, Ministry of National Security, Major (Ret’d) Richard Lynch.

The donation comprised two (2) indoor/outdoor basketballs; two (2) footballs; two (2) packs of tennis balls; one (1) table tennis net and post; two (2) packets of table tennis balls; two (2) table tennis rackets; one (1) badminton set; and two (2) cricket bats; which will be used for recreational activities for detainees housed at the IDC in Aripo.