CARICOM leaders talk crime today

Prime Minister Patrick Manning said the heads who will meet in the twin-island republic for two days, will consider the recommendations made during yesterday's talks.

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, April 4, 2008 – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) heads are expected to sign two agreements aimed at enhancing regional border security at their special crime summit which begins in Trinidad today.

The 13th Special Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Governments of CARICOM follows a regional security ministers meeting yesterday.

Prime Minister Patrick Manning said the heads who will meet in the twin-island republic for two days, will consider the recommendations made during yesterday's talks.

He told those attending the conference that the region had to take a decisive step in advancing its security.

"We must confront the issues of crime squarely and to take steps further to deal with crime at another level," he said, cautioning that Caribbean states would be "consumed" by the drug scourge if action is not taken soon.

He made reference to the cooperation which countries showed during the Cricked World Cup which was hosted in the Caribbean last year, expressing the concern that the security arrangements put in place for that major sporting event were now "fraying at the edges".

Mr Manning therefore urged a recommitment to that cooperation.

"We saw a level of co-operation in the Caribbean... that was virtually unprecedented in the field of national security," he said.

"There must be a reaffirmation of the commitment and a determination of the countries of CARICOM to take steps to preserve the steps already taken to ensure that we continue to enjoy the level of protection and security to which we aspire."