PM addresses Caricom summit on regional challenges before falling ill

PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar

Bridgetown, Barbados - Hours before she fell ill and had to be admitted to hospital on Monday, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar addressed the Second CARICOM-Mexico Summit on the issues and challenges faced by CARICOM member states and suggested several areas of cooperation in addressing the worrying trends in crime and security.

The challenges of the illicit drug trade, trafficking in illegal guns, gang violence, human trafficking and smuggling were raised and detailed by the Prime Minister. 


Concerns were also highlighted in the areas of cyber-crime, international terrorism, money laundering and the exploitation of women and children.

The Prime Minister referenced the UNDP Caribbean Human Development Report 2012 and spoke about the escalating trends and factors which contribute to violent crime in the region. 

Persad-Bissessar called on Heads of Government to emphasise the link between security and development and support action towards combating crime at all levels involving Regional Security Institutions. 

The Prime Minister called for "international collaboration in advocating the use of crime prevention and management strategies, alongside the criminal justice approach to addressing the increase in criminal activity".

She suggested that heads seek the support of Mexico in functional cooperation to counter the illicit trafficking of narcotics and Mexico supporting role in the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI). 

CARICOM member states' commitment to combat the trade of small arms and light weapons and support for the Arms Trade Treaty was also highlighted by the Prime Minister. It was noted that Mexico's advocacy for a robust legally binding treaty matched the CARICOM's position.

Persad-Bissessar also proposed that Mexico support capacity building in polygraphing as an area of collaboration with CARICOM given that country's Institutional capacity and training experience. 

Similarly, the call was made to seek Mexico's support in resource mobilisation, sharing best practices in youth gangs and violence. The challenges in addressing money laundering were explained and the request for financial and technical support for anti-money laundering interventions and combating the financing of terrorism was made.

In his contribution, President Calderón of Mexico noted that organized crime poses a significant challenge to the region and he reminded the meeting that Mexico at the sixth Summit of the Americas in Colombia had recommended the creation of a Hemispheric Scheme against Transnational Organized Crime. 

Calderón also spoke on trade between CARICOM and Mexico. He said greater free trade is a stimulus for growth and development and that this is one of the issues Mexico will advocate for at the G20.