US Attorney General Eric Holder says America is ready to provide its federal experts as resident advisors to work with Caribbean agencies, as part of a partnership to improve law enforcement.
“…While we are committed to helping you address the pressing needs and challenges, we are eager to focus on long term solutions, now,” he said while delivering the main address at the recently concluded Caribbean-United States Security Cooperation Dialogue,
Partnership is the key to improving the capacity of law enforcement agencies and the judiciary to effectively investigate and prosecute crimes while respecting human right, Holder explained. He stated that the U.S. and the Caribbean share many priorities. These include securing borders, eliminating gangs and violence, curbing drug trafficking, reducing recidivism and fighting terrorism. Threats such as those listed, Holder said, burden not only the US and individual law enforcement communities but it also places citizens throughout the Caribbean at risk. The best way to address this risk, according to Holder, is through partnership. “The Department of Justice is committed to working with every one of your great nations,” he said, adding that he was certain that together they could enhance the entire criminal justice process, from prevention, investigation, prosecution to incarceration, and where possible rehabilitation.
Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee, a release from his ministry said yesterday, responded to Holder’s comments on behalf of CARICOM (Caribbean Community). He welcomed the cooperation between to two regions to improve the ability of relevant agencies to respect human rights even while executing their duties.
Some of the key factors responsible for deficiencies in the criminal justice system are outdated models, historical circumstances and a lack of human and material capacities, Rohee said.
He further noted that there is a need for training and advanced technology to overcome this inefficiency and ineffectiveness.
This collaboration will provide many advantages for the different judiciaries that will be sharing “the best practices” with each other, Rohee stated.
The US and the Caribbean, the release said, intend to equip and train authorities and personnel of judicial, law enforcement and penal systems as well as coordinate training and technical assistance with CICAD and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
This statement comes just after Justice Roxanne George spoke announced that prisoners were being denied their rights. Rohee did not reply to Holder’s offer of resident experts.