REGIONAL SECURITY ISSUES HIGH ON CARICOM HEADS OF GOVERNMENT JULY AGENDA

(CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana) Saint Lucia’s Minister for National Security, the Honourable Calixte George, says when CARICOM Heads of Government meet in that country next weekend, they will be considering a number of recommendations from Regional Security Ministers, aimed at curbing the increasing levels of crime that has recently been affecting the Region.

Addressing a CARICOM Media Clinic in Saint Lucia over the weekend, Minister George said, “All the countries of the Region are affected by high rates of crime and new forms of crime.” He noted that CARICOM Security Ministers have been meeting under the direction of Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Hon Patrick Manning to work out a Regional strategy for tackling the problem of crime.

Minister George pointed out that the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas was silent on the issue of Security. He paid tribute to Prime Minister Manning for taking the initiative to put security on the CARICOM Agenda by elevating Crime and Security to the levels of traditional topics such as Agriculture, Health and Trade issues. Prime Minister Manning has portfolio responsibility for security in the CARICOM Quasi Cabinet.

He said arising out of recent meetings of Ministers of National Security in Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, an approved Management Framework for addressing the problem would be put before Heads for a decision when they meet in St. Lucia next weekend.

The Saint Lucian National Security Minister said in their deliberations, the Security Ministers looked at the question of mutual assistance, the Regional justice protection system, human resource development for crime and law enforcement, border security, criminal deportees and the sharing of information and intelligence.

Minister George explained that the Heads of Government would be asked to consider a recommendation for the establishment of a committee of Ministers of National Security and Law Enforcement which would deal with policy issues as they relate to law enforcement and security. The Heads of Government are also expected to consider the setting up of a Security Policy Advisory Committee as well as an agency for the implementation of the CARICOM Crime and Security agenda.