Caribbean Community’s work in crime and security more urgent – CARICOM SG to Security Ministers
CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque addressing National Security Ministers attending the 17th Meeting of the Council for National Security and Law Enforcement (CONSLE) at the CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana, Monday:
Honourable Ministers, given the present environment in many of our Member States, the Community’s work in the area of Crime and Security has become more urgent. The issues to be dealt with are myriad, from the upward trend in the incidence of crime and violence taking toll on our valuable human resources, to the external threats which challenge our peace and security.
In light of these threats, we must deepen our resolve and remain committed to the task of further strengthening our regional security architecture through our individual and collective action.
Read the Secretary-General’s full address:
Remarks
BY THE
SECRETARY-GENERAL
CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY (CARICOM)
Ambassador Irwin LaRocque
on THE occasion
of the
SEVENTEENTH MEETING OF THE COUNCIL FOR NATIONAL SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT (CONSLE)
Good Morning, and a very warm welcome. It is a distinct pleasure to welcome you to the Headquarters of the Caribbean Community.
I am particularly pleased to note the level of ministerial participation in this Meeting of the Council for National Security and Law Enforcement (CONSLE). This is certainly an indication of the seriousness with which our Member States view the issue of security. It is also a measure of the confidence that a regional approach to addressing issues of security will redound to the benefit of individual Members.
It is noteworthy that this Meeting takes place in the wake of the adoption by Heads of Government at their Inter-Sessional Meeting in Belize last February, of the Protocol to incorporate CONSLE as an Organ of the Community and the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) as an Institution of the Community. It has been signed by Guyana, Saint Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago, and I look forward to the other Member States making the necessary arrangements to sign and ratify the Protocol, as soon as possible, to allow for its entry into force.
Honourable Ministers, given the present environment in many of our Member States, the Community’s work in the area of Crime and Security has become more urgent. The issues to be dealt with are myriad, from the upward trend in the incidence of crime and violence taking toll on our valuable human resources, to the external threats which challenge our peace and security.
In light of these threats, we must deepen our resolve and remain committed to the task of further strengthening our regional security architecture through our individual and collective action.
As you would be aware, at their Thirty-Seventh Meeting held in Guyana last July, Heads of Government devoted much of their time to deliberations pertaining to the security of the Region. As you would also be aware, there remain quite a few outstanding security agreements to be attended to by Member States.
Heads of Government agreed then that Member States should move to accede to and implement the key agreements, as most of the regional security agenda is linked significantly to the application of these legal instruments.
The Conference particularly requested that priority be given to the CARICOM Arrest Warrant Treaty. In this regard, I was advised that the Legal Affairs Committee has set in train efforts to have that Agreement finalised for adoption at the Twenty-Eighth Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in February 2017 to be held here in Guyana.
However, there are other legal instruments related to Mutual Legal Assistance, Airspace and Maritime Security as well as the Advanced Passenger Information System which have been languishing for far too long. I urge the Members of this Council to brief their Attorneys-General on the policy imperatives of concluding these outstanding items, so critical to supporting our security architecture. The need for those instruments has been recognised at the highest levels of our Community.
There are other initiatives being pursued to strengthen our co-operation in this vital area. I look forward to the planned review of the CARICOM Crime and Security Strategy which could lead to a reconfiguration and amplification of initiatives designed to address the emerging threats which loom larger by the day.
Also, this Council has previously recognised the critical importance of Information and Intelligence Sharing to the advancement of security co-operation with Third States. I am extremely pleased therefore, to note the advanced stages of negotiations in this regard with a number of Third States.
A commitment has also been given to establishing a stronger partnership for the future between the Caribbean and the United States of America, at the Sixth Security Cooperation Dialogue held in Washington, DC last October.
However, while we appreciate the financial and other assistance provided by Third States, I cannot emphasise enough that the onus is on us, collectively, to demonstrate that we are indeed serious about our own security.
I know that this Meeting of the Council will examine the issues surrounding commitment to the financing of our regional security architecture, so important to ensuring the success of our development efforts in all other spheres. In that context, I must underscore the important role of IMPACS. It is the hub of the regional crime and security framework, along with its sub-agencies – the Joint Regional Communications Centre (JRCC) and the Regional Intelligence Fusion Centre (RIFC).
Every effort ought to be made to ensure that the Agency continues to carry out its crucial role. Even in the face of the financial challenges which beset our Governments, we must strive to support our security architecture while we seek to finalise a financial plan that redounds to the benefit of ALL regional institutions.
As I close, I wish to take this opportunity to extend sincere thanks to the Honourable Attorney-General and Minister of Home Affairs of Barbados for continuing as Chair of the CONSLE for one additional year, despite your hectic domestic schedule.
Honourable Ministers, please accept my very best wishes for a most productive Meeting. I wish your deliberations every success.
Thank You.
Greater Georgetown, Guyana
21 November 2016