So it was done! The momentous decision of the Board of Governors of the IISSM taken on December 12-13,1996, to hold its seventh International Seminar, known by its popular acronym IISSM'97, for the first time outside the shores of India, has been implemented in letter and spirit. The IISSM'97, organised in the island country of Mauritius on November 24-26, 1997, has been a milestone in the history of the International Institute of Security and Safety Management in more than one sense. Attended by representatives from as many as fourteen countries, the Seminar had the unique distinction of being inaugurated by the Prime Minister of Mauritius Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam on the 24th of November, 1997, whereas its closing function was graced by Mr. Rajkeshwur Purryag, the Deputy Prime Minister of Mauritius, on the 26th afternoon.
Originally scheduled at the International Conference Centre at Grand Baie area in the North, the Seminar was eventually inaugurated at the Paul Octave Wiehe Auditorium of the University of Mauritius, situated in Reduit area in the central part of the Island. Apart from the befitting academic environ of the University, the sylvan surroundings provided both relief and added attraction to the international participants, particularly coming as they did covering long distance from their hotel in the North - a situation that could not be avoided due to circumstances beyond control. There was, however, another side of the story. The bus journey from the hotel to the Seminar venue and back was, to quote an overseas participant, something like picnic trips - a generous interpretation indeed!
After the inaugural function in the Auditorium, the business sessions shifted to Lecture Theatre No.1. Jostled in the hall were participants from Australia, UK, the USA, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, France, Reunion Island, Nepal, Hongkong, and of course, from India and Mauritius. Interestingly, they represented almost a cross section of professionals from different strata of society, adding variety of knowledge and expertise to sharpen and enrich the stereotyped minds of security practitioners - a gain of no less means! Among the faculty were well-known and well - established private security experts and scholars, academicians, medical practitioners, both serving and retired government security experts and fire and safety consultants. An innovation was a special session for women with a presentation by a Mauritian lady speaker Mrs. Premila Devi Dhunputh on "Women, Security and Society". The security profession, it is believed, will gain miles if security teachings can really be taken home and this could not be done better except by the ladies at homes. The other areas covered in the Seminar varied from International Terrorism to Security of World Heritage Monuments, from Security in Open Environment to Hotel Security, from Radiation Safety in Hospital to Fire Prevention in general, from Security of High Profile Executives to Loss Prevention and Security, interspersed with Licensing Experience in Hong Kong, HRD Experience in Singapore, Training and Retaining, Creative Management Strategies in the 21st Century and to cap this all, "Why Design A Security System" at all - a rich fare indeed for all receptive and inquisitive minds. This was amply proved by the simple fact that even the last business session was attended by the full house with intense interest - a great reward to the organisers. Please say, " Three Cheers !" for the IISSM!
The tone of discussion in the 3-day long Seminar was set in his Welcome Address by the Chairman, IISSM, Mr. K.N.Prasad, which was further buttressed in the highly enlightening Inaugural Address of the Honourable Prime Minister of Mauritius Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam. The Chairman underscored that the theme of this year's Seminar "Industrial Security : Need for Introspection" had been carefully chosen to enable us to utilise the next few years of the current decade to prepare ourselves for the next century. The Prime Minister maintained that the ever increasing danger to industrial and business security will most certainly put the inventive genius of even the most efficient and capable industrial security managers to severe test. He congratulated the IISSM for its pioneering efforts to focus on the growing security challenges facing the corporate sector as also for having chosen the challenging theme of the Seminar. In his illuminating Valedictory Address, the Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Rajkeshwur Purryag also complimented the IISSM for having organised an International Seminar of this magnitude in Mauritius. Needless to say, this was the first time that the island country of Mauritius had this distinction. He rightly highlighted that in addition to globalism and multilaterism, regionalisation was increasingly becoming one of the main factors in establishing the future world relations and achieving lasting peace, security and prosperity.
IISSM'97 suffered from some unforeseen handicaps. Due to local political developments, the International Organising Committee got deprived of the services of its Chairman (Mr. Raj Dayal, former Commissioner of Police, Mauritius) at the eleventh hour. Dr. Benjamin O, Ali, ILO Senior Specialist based at Ethiopia, could not turn up due to sudden urgent engagement elsewhere. The economic recession prevailing in South East Asia cut into the size of the Singapore delegation attending the Seminar. But there is always a silver lining to every dark cloud. We had a good number of participants from Mauritius. In addition to 59 regular Mauritian delegates, there were 30 observers from the Mauritian Police Force. We bow to our Mauritian participants for the interest and enthusiasm displayed by them all through the long three arduous days of the Seminar.
A highly satisfying side - story of the IISSM'97 was the fact that our Seminar was approved in principle on a one - off basis by the prestigious Industrial and Vocational Training Board (IVTB) of Mauritius. Apart from being an appreciation of the professional status of the IISSM programme, this gesture of the IVTB proved highly beneficial to the Mauritian participants from the point of view of registration fees. We take this opportunity once again to thank the IVTB authorities for this. Incidentally, true to their professional approach, the IVTB authorities had deputed some members of its Training Advisory Committee to attend some of our business sessions for monitoring purposes. It gives us immense pleasure to know that the feedback from this Committee was complimentary to the IISSM.
Lest one attending the Seminar misses out, simultaneously with it an Exhibition was staged, displaying various items of security and fire safety management. Our thanks for successfully organising this Exhibition, in the face of very uncertain situation till the end, are due to Mr. Gerarad B. Colin, Executive Director of AEL Engineers Ltd., Mauritius.
It speaks volume of our local coordinators, particularly the Regional Vice President, Mauritius, Mr. Raj Ghura and the Country Director, Mr. Deoprasadsing Seepergauth, that a coloured 52 - page Souvenir could be brought out on the occasion of the Seminar. Quite appropriately, therefore, the Souvenir carries a brief write - up by them on " Welcome to Mauritius - Paradise on Earth". The second part of the Souvenir forms the Special Issue of the International Security Journal, which we hope to revive on a quarterly basis if we receive adequate contributions from friendly professionals all over the world. The current issue contains seven articles of pure professional interest.
The miscellaneous features of this year's Seminar included calling on the Prime Minister, Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam by some selected delegates (comprising mostly the heads of delegations from different countries on November 26, a reception in the Indian House to some selected delegates on November 25 by His Excellency the High Commissioner of India in Mauritius, Mr. M.L. Tripathi and the banquet dinner for delegates & guests by the Chairman, IISSM on Nov. 24, 1997. Of course, there were arranged dinners for the delegates on the other two nights as well.
Last but not least, comes the lively daily spouses' programme followed by the post conference tour. As in the past, Mrs. Rita Kishore Sinha spared no pains in organising both sightseeing and buying spree for the willing and accompanying spouses. The zeal and meticulousness with which she performed this delicate and difficult duty even in a land foreign to her would indeed be lesson to many aspiring to be in any travel agent's group. It was, therefore, no wonder that some of the international participants came up on the last day to congratulate and compliment her on the dais. Hats off to Mrs. Sinha ! The post conference tour, scheduled on the 27th November, had, however to be postponed to the 28th of November, much to the disappointment and chagrin of some delegates and their spouses. Our sincere apology to them. This had to be done under compelling circumstances, we would have loved to avoid. Well, things are as they are! But the delegates participating in the trip to the beautiful island on the 28th of November will vouchsafe what others have missed. It was all speedboat, water-fall, parasailing, and swimming, duly beefed up by barbeque, fried seafish and what not to follow. We were lucky that we did not miss out any one while returning - the inclination to stay back was indeed that strong!
So, salute to the Paradise Island of Mauritius. Our Seminar is over but Mauritius and Mauritian friends will continue to live with us - at least till we meet again in IISSM'98. Kathmandu (Nepal) is beckoning to us. Are you ready? We do hope you say, "YES". Yes, I almost hear you say so.
