Manning: Region must deal with deportees

He said that it is an issue which continues to have a negative impact on all our societies, and so far it has been dealt with on an individual basis.

Manning was speaking at the special meeting of Caricom ministers responsible for national security and law enforcement at the Hilton Trinidad yesterday.

"We have not been able to prevent this activity of criminal deporation perhaps because we have not engaged our collective strength, but also because we have not been able to provide empirical evidence as to the extent of its negative impact," said Manning.

He stressed that we must therefore revisit the basis on which we have entered into negotiations with the deporting countries, and re-open the issue on the basis of an agreed new strategy.

In addressing delegates at the conference, Manning noted that regional crime and security issues continued to be determined by global security issues. He said that a proposal for the restructuring of the Caricom machinery was presented to the Caricom Heads of Government in February this year.

An indicative budget of US$1.9 million was agreed to. Manning noted that Cricket World Cup 2007 is just around the corner, and this event presents enormous security considerations for the region.

"While the tournament itself is privately controlled, member states must satisfy the requirements of a master security plan as it applies at each national level, and much work is yet to be done and proper co-ordination at both the national and regional levels is necessary," he said.