Caricom Heads of Government have agreed, at the end of the special summit on the issue of security, to several measures to tackle the crime situation regionally.
Among the decisions taken in Trinidad and Tobago last evening are that they will sign the regional ‘Maritime and Airspace Cooperation and the Sharing of Assets agreement’; explore the establishment of a Rapid Deployment Regional Joint Force; enact legislation to allow the security forces to conduct wiretapping and to establish a Caricom polygraphing facility.
The heads, who met at the Hilton in Port of Spain, over the past two days, agreed to sign the Maritime and Airspace Security Cooperation Agreement and the Caricom Arrest Warrant Treaty by July 2008, Caricom Chairman and Prime Minister of The Bahamas Hubert Ingraham told a press conference. The security cooperation agreement, which had been in effect during Cricket World Cup 2007, is one of the legacies of the mega sporting event.
According to the statement issued at the end of the meeting, the heads also agreed to engage international partners, particularly the United States of America, with respect to the implications for the region of their anti-narcotics efforts in Central America and the Pacific Coast; and to draft model national legislation immediately for enactment by member states.
The conference also approved the conduct of a region-wide information campaign against crime to be facilitated by the Caricom Secretariat. The retooling, retraining, and realignment of national and regional intelligence units to assist law enforcement agencies; the utilisation of current facilities such as the Regional Intelligence Fusion Centre (RIFC), the Joint Regional Communications Centre (JRCC) and the Caricom Watch List are also among the agreements reached.
The heads also approved a recommendation with regard to the procurement of equipment and will formulate a strategy for information-sharing in the procurement of assets among military and law enforcement entities in member states. A working group will be assigned to create an index/inventory of existing resources in the region, identify the gaps therein, and recommend equipment to fill the gaps identified.
The conference agreed to explore the establishment of a Rapid Deployment Regional Joint Force.
To deal with gun crimes, the conference agreed to enforce existing regulations on the use and storage of firearms and ammunition and develop a regional database of firearms, which would be accessible by all regional law enforcement agencies. The capacity of detection and surveillance in relation to the movement of firearms would be increased, including importation, sale, transfer, theft and use and measures are to be introduced to improve systems, procedures, intelligence and training with a view to enhancing border security.
With regard to drug trafficking, the heads agreed to increase capability and coordination among law enforcement agencies to develop intelligence to conduct operations with a view to stamping out this scourge. They have also agreed to enhance the enforcement of laws; maximise the use of available technology in detection, deterrence and seizure of illegal drugs entering and transiting the region; ensure the implementation of systems, procedures, intelligence and training.
It was agreed that the region needs specially trained, equipped and dedicated teams of homicide investigators who could utilize forensics, including DNA and manage crime scenes. Caricom also intends to introduce video in criminal proceeding, inclusive of ID parades. The heads recognize that there must be timely completion of investigations and speedy prosecution of persons charged.
Prevention
In relation to crime prevention, the heads agreed to promote inter-agency collaboration for crime prevention at the national level and establish the Regional Investigative Management Team to support difficult and protracted investigations.
In this regard, they also agreed to implement the Caricom Justice Protection Programme and work towards the establishment of a Western Hemispheric Justice Protection Programme; and establish a Caricom polygraphing capacity with a view to addressing corruption in law enforcement and other agencies.
They further agreed to the enactment of legislation to allow for plea bargaining, the interception of communications also known as wire-tapping and confiscation of assets connected to criminal activity.
On the issue of gang and youth-related violence, the heads agreed to the development of monitoring capability, intelligence monitoring and analytic capacity on gang-related activity nationally and regionally.
They agreed to the establishment and training of counter-kidnapping units (response teams and hostage negotiators); increased use of technology and intelligence; and monitoring and targeting gangs/individuals whose modus operandi includes kidnapping/ forcible abduction.
Deportees
With regard to deportees, the conference agreed to pursue negotiations for standardised memorandums of understanding (MOU) with Canada, the UK, the US and other states. Such MOUs should provide for adequate notification of deportation and allowance for the settlement of personal affairs for long-term residents. They should also allow for complete dossiers, including criminal antecedents and medical records where applicable to be made available. Also, appropriate arrangements to reduce the financial burden on deported persons, and on receiving countries, and support for programmes designed to aid the rehabilitation and reintegration of deported persons in the region will be negotiated.
Caricom states will also establish a mandatory requirement for the enforcement of monitoring orders where persons are deported in relation to convictions for specified major offences; to the development of an information-sharing protocol to guide the transfer and dissemination of information related to deported persons between relevant law enforcement authorities throughout the region; and collaboration in the establishment of transition centres in each country to facilitate short-term stays for deported persons without shelter and/or familial support.
Meanwhile, President Bharrat Jagdeo who attended the meeting told the Stabroek News that he was satisfied with the outcome of the meeting noting that a number of recommendations that Guyana made had been accepted. These included the recommendation for the law enforcement agencies to be able to conduct wiretapping to aid in their investigations; the establishment of a regional polygraphing facility to fight corruption; plea bargaining; video identification parade to protect witnesses; and the forfeiture of assets of not only drug dealers but to those knowingly giving them protection.
The Thirteenth Special Meeting of the Heads on Crime and Security was agreed to in Nassau, Bahamas at the 19th inter-sessional meeting of the heads. Its main aim was to fully ventilate the crime and security issues facing the region and to agree on a strategy and plan of action to stem the rising tide of violent criminality.
Prior to the heads meeting, the Extra-ordinary Joint Meeting of the Standing Committees of Commissioners of Police and of Military Chiefs; the Security Policy and Advisory Committee (SEPAC); and the Council of Ministers with Responsibility for National Security and Laws Enforcement (CONSLE) was in caucus and put forward the various recommendations which were approved.
According to reports out of Trinidad and Tobago it is expected that implementation of the recommendations agreed to would be taken at the Annual Heads of Government Conference scheduled for Antigua and Barbuda in July.
The statement said the heads agreed that, building on the legacy of the success of the security cooperation arrangements put in place for CWC 2007, some of the elements could be upgraded and expanded on a permanent basis. These include the Advanced Passenger Information System, the Regional Intelligence Fusion Centre and the Joint Regional Communications Centre.
In addition, they agreed that an Advanced Cargo Information System would be put in place. Discussions would continue with respect to the Caricom Visa, the Caricom Travel Card and the Single Domestic Space.
Heads of Government also agreed to put into operation the action plan submitted by the Commissioners of Police and Military Chiefs and supported by the SEPAC and CONSLE. The plan called for short, medium and long-term measures to curb the high levels of crime in the region. These include a strategy to combat the proliferation of small arms and light weapons along with the establishment of a Regional Integrated Ballistics Information Network (RIBIN) and a Regional Investigative Management System (RIMS).
