Caricom Heads to talk crime
As the Caricom Heads of Government meeting begins today, some of the main issues to be debated will relate to the vexed issue of crime, such as the removal of guns from the streets, and the illegal gun trade. These are two of the main items on the agenda for the Caricom 17th Intersessional, which will be held at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre over the next two days. Other issues for discussion at the meeting include Petrocaribe and the Caribbean response and Cricket World Cup and the Caribbean preparedness for hosting it. Haiti is also expected to be discussed. Prime Minister Patrick Manning is expected to report on his discussions with Haitian prime minister Gerald Latortue as the leaders debate Haiti’s application for re-entry into Caricom. Haiti is in the process of counting the votes from Tuesday’s election, in which there were 33 presidential candidates. Many see the election as a progressive step towards establishing democracy in the country. Of course there is expected to be extensive discussion on CSME. Manning will deliver the feature address at today’s opening session which begins at 8.45 am in the Hilton ballroom. The outgoing chairman, Dr Kenny Anthony, will also address the meeting as well as the Caricom Secretary-General, Dr Edwin Carrington. Manning is the lead Prime Minister for Crime and Security. When the working session begins, the recommendations of the Caricom Task Force on Crime and Security will be considered at today’s session. The Task Force presented more than 100 recommendations. It also made recommendations for establishing multi-sectoral National Commissions on Law and Order and for forming a regional research network that will bring together the University of the West Indies (UWI) and other institutions with research capabilities. The Task Force identified unemployment, inequality, social marginalisation and inequality, poverty, the illegal drug trade, the trafficking in firearms, corruption and the ineffectiveness of the existing criminal justice systems in the region as factors contributing to the crime problem in the region. Other major security threats stem from criminal deportees, growing lawlessness and the vulnerability of the region to terrorism.
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"Caricom Heads to talk crime"