Georgetown : Given the importance of crime and security to the Caribbean Region and their effects on national and regional development, the 24th inter-sessional conference of CARICOM Heads of Government in Haiti on February 18 and 19, addressed several issues which concern the safety and security of the regional grouping.
Issues such as the threat of illicit trafficking, gang and youth violence, terrorism, and cyber security where brought to the fore.
The Heads of States agreed that there must be a concerted effort to confront such threats while simultaneously addressing the issue of crime prevention.
To this end, the Conference adopted a Regional Crime and Security Strategy which addresses many of the issues of Member States and which provides a common platform from which the Region could advance their fight.
A mandate was given to the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) to provide advice to Member States on ways in which to treat with crime and security such as gang violence and the prevalence of armed murders.
The Conference also agreed that there must be close cooperation between IMPACS and other entities, such as the Regional Security System (RSS) Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System (CASSOS) and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA).
A significant feature of the caucus was the engagement of Heads of Government with the Attorney-General of the United States of America, Eric Holder Jr.
The Attorney General reiterated the interest of the US in focused engagement with the Region on crime and security. According to the CARICOM Communiqué which was issued subsequent to the conference, the US Attorney General acknowledged that the Caribbean was being used as a transit corridor for illicit drugs and the accompanying proliferation of small arms.
It was noted in particular, that the US Domestic policy on deportees and its negative consequences for the Region was a continuing area of concern. In this regard, a proposal was made to increase intelligence and information sharing, including with regard to arrangements related to deportation, and capacity building for law enforcement and crime prevention.
Heads of Government reiterated their call for the US to curtail the illicit flow of small arms into the Region and expressed appreciation to that country for the considerable resources made available through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) and the continued technical assistance in areas such as judicial system strengthening and reform.
Under the modified CBSI pact signed last month, the Guyana Government will benefit from assistance in law enforcement training and enhanced port security. Immigration officers will be trained to detect fraudulent documents and illicit smuggling of goods and persons. Funding will also go to Guyana’s capacity to target money laundering and financial crimes and prosecution of those profiting from criminal activities. This aspect will draw a collective of personnel from the Ministry of Finance and the Director of Public Prosecution.
Another agreement was signed last month, the ‘Cooperative Sensor Information Integration’ (CSII) initiative that allows the US, Guyana and other Caribbean countries to share data on land, sea and air traffic to detect, monitor and tackle illicit activities in the Caribbean. Guyana as the sixth CSII participation nation joins Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines.
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