Caribbean360: Grenada leader wants hemispheric approach to security

Grenada leader wants hemispheric approach to security
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Chris Hoyos on 26/08/2011 08:30:00
 
ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, Friday August 26, 2011 – Prime Minister Tillman
Thomas has called for greater emphasis on a hemispheric approach to confronting
criminal activity and security.
He says small states are challenged by a lack of resources to effectively
confront crime and insecurity.
“Our success in meeting and overcoming the challenges associated with fighting
crime and improving the security of the region, is affected by limited
resources. The geography of our island states, characterized by hundreds of
inlets and bays, makes accomplishing this task even more problematic. Regional
collaboration is therefore necessary,” he said at the recent Third
CARICOM-SICA Summit in El Salvador.
He noted that criminals are increasingly using sophisticated boats and
technology for transnational organized crime, allowing them to take advantage of
limitations in the security capacity of CARICOM states.
The Prime Minister noted that Caribbean countries are also affected by an
increase in criminal activity due to the United States policy of deporting
persons of Caribbean descent who are found guilty of crimes that are committed
in the US.
“These persons, who are sent back to our region with a criminal record, do not
have the requisite relationships or mechanisms to support their re-adjustment to
life in the Caribbean. Many of them grew up and were socialized in their adopted
countries,” the Prime Minister said.
Additionally the Grenadian leader said the “integrity deficit” in some
elements of the security forces, evidenced by their facilitation of criminal
activity, was also at the heart of his call for a new approach to security.
“There is a need for the development and institutionalization of necessary
steps to ensure that those who are there to protect and provide security to our
people are not themselves involved in criminal activity,” the Prime Minister
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