Caricom leaders agree on 14-point strategy to fight crime, enhance security

PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar at a media briefing in Haiti

Regional leaders in collaboration with the United States have agreed to adopt a Regional Crime and Security Strategy, which consists of fourteen strategic goals, to guide the Community’s approach to crime and security.

This was stated on Thursday by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar who chaired this weeks CARICOM security meeting in Haiti. 

In a brief address at Piarco International Airport shortly after returning home, she noted that as lead Head of Government responsible for crime and security in the CARICOM quasi Cabinet, she called on her colleagues to demonstrate their commitment to the regional security agenda.

"I concluded by stressing the need for an interconnected approach to fighting crime. I also urged Heads to consider the establishment of National Joint Coordinating Systems in support of the development of a centralized Coordination Centre, (possibly in Trinidad and Tobago) to enable joint operations in times of disaster, emergency and crises," she said. 

The added that discussions were also held with the US Attorney General Eric Holder, regarding:

1. Deportees
2. The problem of trafficking: (arms, human and narcotics)
3. A call for the resumption of negotiations for The Arms Trade Treaty
4. The signing of agreements relating to information sharing, for example, the Technical Assistance Field Team (TAFT), the Cooperative Sensor Integration Information System (CSII) and the Automated Fingerprint Information System (AFIS)
5. Cyber crime capacity building
6. Socio-Economic Development and its impact on crime in the Region 

She reported that CARICOM and the US Attorney General have agreed:

• To adopt new steps to address gun and gang violence that crosses international borders
• That the US will do more to stem the number of guns coming into the country and the Caribbean
• That the US would provide greater notice to CARICOM states when deporting Caribbean nationals and will assist in building capacity amongst law enforcement and other national authorities to treat with deportees
• That the US will continue the provision of experts from the Justice Department as partners in the criminal justice systems
• To dedicate and commit attention to fighting crime and towards enhanced information sharing
• To build capacity and infrastructure regarding cyber attacks

Persad-Bissessar also outlined the 14-point strategic goals that would guide CARICOM's approach to crime and security.

• Strategic Goal 1: Take the profit out of crime, target criminal assents and
• protect the financial system
• Strategic Goal 2: Crime Prevention - Addressing the causes of crime and insecurity and increase public awareness of the key risks
• Strategic Goal 3: Establish appropriate legal instruments ratifying existing agreements
• Strategic Goal 4: Increase trans border intelligence and information sharing
• Strategic Goal 5: Enhance law enforcement and security capabilities and strengthen regional security
• Strategic Goal 6: Enhance maritime and airspace awareness, strengthen CARICOM borders, including continuing land borders
• Strategic Goal 7: Strengthen the effectiveness of criminal investigation through modern technologies and scientific techniques
• Strategic Goal 8: Strengthen CARICOM's resilience to cyber crime
• Strategic Goal 9: Pursue Functional Cooperative Security Engagements to tackle and manage shared risks and threats
• Strategic Goal 10: Strengthen the justice system
• Strategic Goal 11: Strengthen mechanisms against human trafficking
• Strategic Goal 12: Modernise and enhance correctional services and institutions management
• Strategic Goal 13: Improve response time to natural and man made disasters
• Strategic Goal 14: Promote resilient critical infrastructure management and safety at major events

She said CARICOM leaders made a commitment to:

1. Endorse the convening of a Regional Forum on Crime and Violence in April/May 2013
2. Review the existing legal framework to determine priorities for implementation and to request Attorneys General and Ministers of National Security to meet as a matter of urgency, with a view to putting this framework in place; particularly with respect to the CARICOM Maritime and Airspace Security Cooperation Agreement (MASCA) and the CARICOM Arrest Warrant Treaty (CAWT)
3. Approve the appointment of Francis Forbes as the Director of IMPACS