About 200 local police officers moved into the visiting cruise ships yesterday as part of the overall security operation for the Fifth Summit of the Americas starting on Friday at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Port-of-Spain. Many of them were seen with their luggage outside the old Water Tax Terminal on Dock Road, awaiting further instructions to board to Caribbean Princess and Caribbean Victory, which sailed into Trinidad on Sunday afternoon.

The police officers were taken from various sections and divisions in the police service, in particular from the Hall of Justice, Port-of-Spain, where the Supreme Court is on its usual Easter break. The police officers will filter among the guests, delegates and journalists staying on the two cruise ships for the next seven days. They will also lend assistance at the Hyatt, where the Summit will be held. The local police officers will join security officers from the the US FBI, Secret Service, and Homeland Security, and other persons from Latin and South America.

Yesterday, the local and international media were given a tour of the two vessels which will host a number of functions over the next three days. Last night, there was the formal opening of the Civil Society Forum on the Carnival Victory, as well as the reception to open the Youth Forum on the Carnival Princess. The two conferences kick into high gear from nine o’clock this morning. The tour guide yesterday was Marina Andrade, of Launderline, whose company was hired by the T&T Government to organise the events aboard the two cruise ships. Andrade, a Venezuelan, said there were 1,150 staff members on board the Carnival Princess.