The U.S. State Department's annual International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), released earlier this week states that the Caribbean region needs to do more to deal with the spiraling drug trade.
While acknowledging that the CARICOM states have adopted a series of measures aimed at dealing with the problems, the State Department report was critical of some countries for not doing enough.
With respect to Trinidad and Tobago, the report said the country's location off the coast of Venezuela, porous air and sea borders, and direct air or sea routes to Europe, West Africa, the US, Canada and the Caribbean “make it ideally suited for drug transshipment.”
It said trafficking of South American cocaine and marijuana from South America and the Caribbean remains “prevalent,” along with smaller amounts of heroin.
It noted that while the new Government of Trinidad and Tobago "struggles to effectively coordinate and implement its drug-control assets" maintenance issues, corruption, and gaps in the legislative framework remain challenges.
It added, “While Trinidad and Tobago has dedicated resources and political will to drug control efforts, overall, there does not appear to be a marked change in its drug-control performance in 2010.”
It noted that some initiatives, including demand reduction programs for school children and at-risk youth, may take years to show results.
In addition. the State Department said the new administration in T&T has “de-emphasized regional efforts and assistance programs, including some security-related projects that would impact counter narcotics efforts, in order to focus greater attention on domestic issues.”
Guyana came in for the most severe criticism with the report urging the Bharrat Jagdeo administration to “effectively implement recent legislation and regulations supporting counter narcotics efforts."
The State Department said, “We look forward to collaborating with Guyanese law enforcement to test the amended extradition law and emphasize the need for vigorous enforcement of laws against money laundering and financial crimes.”
It added that recently-acquired equipment, such as the maritime patrol craft and container scanner by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), should be “optimized for long term use through development of training, evaluation and maintenance requirements.”
The INCSR noted that Guyana remains a main transshipment point for cocaine from Colombia and Venezuela destined for North America, Europe, and the Caribbean.
“Due to weak land and maritime border controls and the vast unpatrolled interior, drug traffickers are able to conduct operations without significant interference from law enforcement agencies,” it said.
“The ability to detect drug shipments has received some recent investment, but a lack of focused interdiction operations and the capacity to monitor and control its expansive borders hinder enforcement of anti-trafficking laws,” it added.
The report further said that, overall, Guyana’s counter narcotics 2010 activities were challenged by the “consistently marginal commitment and capacity at all levels of government, despite some achievements late in the year.”
However, the Jagdeo administration described the report as “despicable,” adding that it peddles inaccuracy and untruths.”
Home affairs minister Clement Rohee told reporters, “We are examining the document because we will be putting out our own national report, because those reports obviously don’t reflect the reality of Guyana.”
He added, “If the US is our neighbour to the north, who has the possibilities to help us, then they should. We are going to be getting some money from the CBSI (Caribbean Basin Security Initiative) that will help us to some extent. But, at the same time, the problem remains an enormous one.”
The report also slams Jamaica for continuing to be the “largest Caribbean supplier of marijuana to the United States”. In addition it said Jamaica is a transit point for cocaine trafficked from Central and South America to North America.
It noted that drug production and trafficking in Jamaica are “both enabled and accompanied by organized crime, domestic and international gang activity, and endemic police corruption.
“The gun trade for illicit drugs exacerbates the problem as undocumented handguns flow freely into the country,” said the report, adding that recent assessments by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) indicate that a “significant quantity of illegal firearms entering Jamaica originated in the United States”.
The report also noted that Haiti is a major drug transit country for South American cocaine destined for the United States, the Bahamas, and other countries.
Flights from South America, making airdrops offshore and at clandestine airstrips throughout Haiti remain a primary narcotics shipment threat, the report said.
The report identifies Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent as islands that continue to “harbor abundant transshipment points for illicit narcotics primarily from Venezuela destined for North American, European and domestic Caribbean markets.”
The report said drugs transit mostly by sea in the Eastern Caribbean in “go-fast” boats, larger fishing vessels, yachts and freighters “in a variety of scenarios tailored to the geography of the region.”
It said drug-related crime rates are increasing as more drugs are remaining in the region, adding that local consumption of drugs is on the rise.
“In general, the Eastern Caribbean suffers from a dramatic increase in crime rates as more narcotics remain on the streets for local consumption while organized gangs are forming to control distribution in the lucrative drug trade,” the report said.
“Compounding the problem is the lack of comprehensive and timely vetting of all officers serving in sensitive positions, which contributes to the vulnerability of narcotics corruption,” it added.
While acknowledging that the CARICOM states have adopted a series of measures aimed at dealing with the problems, the State Department report was critical of some countries for not doing enough.
With respect to Trinidad and Tobago, the report said the country's location off the coast of Venezuela, porous air and sea borders, and direct air or sea routes to Europe, West Africa, the US, Canada and the Caribbean “make it ideally suited for drug transshipment.”
It said trafficking of South American cocaine and marijuana from South America and the Caribbean remains “prevalent,” along with smaller amounts of heroin.
It noted that while the new Government of Trinidad and Tobago "struggles to effectively coordinate and implement its drug-control assets" maintenance issues, corruption, and gaps in the legislative framework remain challenges.
It added, “While Trinidad and Tobago has dedicated resources and political will to drug control efforts, overall, there does not appear to be a marked change in its drug-control performance in 2010.”
It noted that some initiatives, including demand reduction programs for school children and at-risk youth, may take years to show results.
In addition. the State Department said the new administration in T&T has “de-emphasized regional efforts and assistance programs, including some security-related projects that would impact counter narcotics efforts, in order to focus greater attention on domestic issues.”
Guyana came in for the most severe criticism with the report urging the Bharrat Jagdeo administration to “effectively implement recent legislation and regulations supporting counter narcotics efforts."
The State Department said, “We look forward to collaborating with Guyanese law enforcement to test the amended extradition law and emphasize the need for vigorous enforcement of laws against money laundering and financial crimes.”
It added that recently-acquired equipment, such as the maritime patrol craft and container scanner by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), should be “optimized for long term use through development of training, evaluation and maintenance requirements.”
The INCSR noted that Guyana remains a main transshipment point for cocaine from Colombia and Venezuela destined for North America, Europe, and the Caribbean.
“Due to weak land and maritime border controls and the vast unpatrolled interior, drug traffickers are able to conduct operations without significant interference from law enforcement agencies,” it said.
“The ability to detect drug shipments has received some recent investment, but a lack of focused interdiction operations and the capacity to monitor and control its expansive borders hinder enforcement of anti-trafficking laws,” it added.
The report further said that, overall, Guyana’s counter narcotics 2010 activities were challenged by the “consistently marginal commitment and capacity at all levels of government, despite some achievements late in the year.”
However, the Jagdeo administration described the report as “despicable,” adding that it peddles inaccuracy and untruths.”
Home affairs minister Clement Rohee told reporters, “We are examining the document because we will be putting out our own national report, because those reports obviously don’t reflect the reality of Guyana.”
He added, “If the US is our neighbour to the north, who has the possibilities to help us, then they should. We are going to be getting some money from the CBSI (Caribbean Basin Security Initiative) that will help us to some extent. But, at the same time, the problem remains an enormous one.”
The report also slams Jamaica for continuing to be the “largest Caribbean supplier of marijuana to the United States”. In addition it said Jamaica is a transit point for cocaine trafficked from Central and South America to North America.
It noted that drug production and trafficking in Jamaica are “both enabled and accompanied by organized crime, domestic and international gang activity, and endemic police corruption.
“The gun trade for illicit drugs exacerbates the problem as undocumented handguns flow freely into the country,” said the report, adding that recent assessments by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) indicate that a “significant quantity of illegal firearms entering Jamaica originated in the United States”.
The report also noted that Haiti is a major drug transit country for South American cocaine destined for the United States, the Bahamas, and other countries.
Flights from South America, making airdrops offshore and at clandestine airstrips throughout Haiti remain a primary narcotics shipment threat, the report said.
The report identifies Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent as islands that continue to “harbor abundant transshipment points for illicit narcotics primarily from Venezuela destined for North American, European and domestic Caribbean markets.”
The report said drugs transit mostly by sea in the Eastern Caribbean in “go-fast” boats, larger fishing vessels, yachts and freighters “in a variety of scenarios tailored to the geography of the region.”
It said drug-related crime rates are increasing as more drugs are remaining in the region, adding that local consumption of drugs is on the rise.
“In general, the Eastern Caribbean suffers from a dramatic increase in crime rates as more narcotics remain on the streets for local consumption while organized gangs are forming to control distribution in the lucrative drug trade,” the report said.
“Compounding the problem is the lack of comprehensive and timely vetting of all officers serving in sensitive positions, which contributes to the vulnerability of narcotics corruption,” it added.
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