The Prime Minister of Dominica Roosevelt Skerrit said ahead of the two-day intersessional CARICOM Summit this morning that a key issue on up for discussion is security in the Caribbean region.
Skerrit, also chairman of CARICOM, told the media that drug trafficking is one of the major concerns in the region to be addressed at the 21st Inter-Sessional meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of Caribbean Community.
“Security continues to be a major issue to all of us in the region and what we are seeking to do is see to what extent we can incorporate within the Caribbean region and of course with our extra regional partners to fight crime in the region. The issue of drug trafficking continues to be a major concern for us. You heard me here in Dominica speak very strongly and I will continue to do so,” he said at the Fort Young Hotel’s VIP room.
He noted that it is important however, that persons within the system do not get caught up in the drug trade, and efforts to fight this problem should come from the entire Caribbean society.
“And we have to ensure that we do not get our systems involved and participate in the drug trade. We have persons within the public service and private sector facilitating those criminals to peddle their trade throughout the region. So it is something that we‘ll continue to discuss which I cannot speak to publicly because of the security concern,” Skerrit said.
According to the CARICOM chairman, it is a continuing battle, and should therefore achieve a societal response. “It cannot only be heads of government and governments and governments themselves but all of us must play our part … In seeking to fight this difficult challenge that we’re faced with… certainly the issue of security will be on the agenda,” he added.
The meeting with CARICOM heads of government is currently ongoing at the Fort Young Hotel.
HERMISHA ROLLE, STAFF REPORTER.
Security is our best option do u want to allo w all this drugs and guns in our country. Most people who oppose this issue are the ones who mmmmm
The far largest sector of drug traffic into the bankrupt USA is through Mexico; rather than the Caribbean
You WILL soon see however, (as US law enforcement sees fighting drugs is futile), the legalization of many drugs in the USA
In California for example, pot sellers are selling their products legally; and universities there are training people how to grow better pot
Refer to the following web site:
http://www.oaksterdamuniversity.com/
It is not a good idea for OECD nations to jump on the “drug & terrorism” bus if the final result is losing sovereignty!
@ National: WELL SAID.
CARICOM/CARICRAP.
Time for a regional police force!
This is very good that security is being adressed.
As a Dominican fisherman I feel absolutely no sense of security in our waters.
3 times I have been held at gun point by frenchmen while in Dominca’s waters.
Many other fishermen have to abandon/surrender their FAD’s when the french fishermen want it.
In 2009 were not three fishermen from Dominica executed while in our waters?
How many others have simply disappeared?
When our fisheries and coast guard cuaght the french fishermen did not the Cabinet order that they be released without being prosecuted?
Who is allowing Venezuela to take over our territorial waters around Bird island ?
some Now that Venezuela is trying to get it recognised as an island is not Dominica losing hundreds of square miles of territorial waters?
Is it not that the result is that we only have ~35 miles to our west?
Has this not stirred up a hornets nest of security issues that has placed Dominica in the middle?
How many nuclear powers are now arming naval and bases in the caibbean sea becuase of the challenges to their territorial waters that Bird island is now posing?
Let us ask ourselves the following:
Is there not a russian presence in the caribbean sea training venezuelan troops?
has the (US, Brittish, French, Dutch and Chinese, Iranian) military presence been increasing in the Caribbean basin?
How does this affect the (Food, Territorial, naval, energy, shipping, Fisheries, ..)security of the Caricom?
Have not the French been transporting plutonium through the Caribbean sea for the past 15years?
What was the secret ‘extremely dangerous’ material spilled from the sunken ship off St Lucia last week?
Is not Dominica being used by a non national to penitrate the CARICOM?
Do not laws of Dominica and that of the French prohibiting someone from holding office as a civil servant or millitary post/service in a foriegn power?
Was not the PM made to reveal the secret that he is a French citizen?
Who is chairman of the CARICOM? is it a EU citizen or a Caricom Citizen?
If the French do not permit someopne to hold civil or military posts in a foriegn power/country and keep the French citizenship as a dual citizenship then if the french citizenship has not been revoked then is it not safe to say that there is an exception being made for the person holding the dual citizenship?
what has this got to do with CARICOM security?
Concerned and threatened (single citizenship) Dominican
Wonderful. We hope they will adress:
Our fishermen being chased at gun point by French and Spanish speaking killing us fishers in our waters.
The nuclear powers conducting exercises in our waters
Siezmic surveys for oil.
Our food,water and air security being destroyed by french quarries. Our energy security signed over to french.
Our youth destroyed by cocaine
From V?
Our economic security blacklisted by his French nation?…..
bwavo, examine your horns, start at home fus papa, start with cousins, broda, etc