Caribbean urged to continue fight against transnational crime

Secretary General of the Organisation of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza explained that over the two-day meeting officials analysed the scope and meaning of the activities of transnational organized crime.

MEXICO CITY, Mexico, Monday March 5, 2012 – Caribbean states have been urged to remain steadfast and continue the fight against transnational crime.

This plead from Secretary General of the Organisation of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza as he addressed the closing session yesterday during the High Level Hemispheric Meeting aganinst Transnational Organised Crime in Mexico City.

“Do not give in to the magnitude of the work in the fight against the scourge of transnational crime; nor be seduced by the supposedly easy short-term solutions, and above all never surrender to the enemy or reconcile with him,” he said.

The secretary general explained that over the two-day meeting officials analysed the scope and meaning of the activities of transnational organized crime, including the ability of law enforcers to confront such crimes.

Head of the hemispheric organization, President Felipe Calderon said: “We know that we impose on the enemy because we represent women and men, honest and decent people of our continent. We represent the most transparent and fair way to interact and fair way to interact in society,” he said.

He noted that crime, especially transnational organized crime, represented the opposite of democracy and often resulted in the destruction of institutions and individuals, and the elimination of participation and dialogue.

Speaking about the capacity and conditions that the OAS has to support its Member States and act together against this crime, the OAS high-level representative emphasized the importance of using and strengthening those tools and promoting new initiatives such as the Centre for Cooperation in Combating Transnational Organized Crime.

The High Level Hemispheric Meeting against Transnational Organized Crime was also attended by attorneys and prosecutors of the OAS member countries who analyzed specific proposals to streamline government actions against organized crime.

Topics covered included the importance of effectively combating organized crime through legal and institutional modernization; progress in the region on penalizing criminal activities set in the Palermo Convention; and the strengthening of institutions in the fight against transnational organized crime in the Caribbean, among others. Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)