BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AMBASSADOR Albert Ramdin, Assistant Secretary-General of the Organisation of American States (OAS), has urged greater coordination in the fight against crime and violence.
“The growing prevalence and severity of crime in our societies is cause for major concern and cannot be left unchecked. If our countries are to progress toward sustained and sustainable development, the issue of crime and violence has to be faced head-on,” Ramdin said.
He was at the time addressing the delegation of a regional conference on youth crime and violence at the Marriott Resort and Royal Beach Casino. Organised by the government of St. Kitts and Nevis, the meeting was held from Monday to Tuesday (June 22-23) and featured representation from a number of regional and international institutions.
According to the diplomat, the “fracturing of our societies as a result of violence calls for a committed effort to advance a process of social cohesion within countries and throughout the region”.
He called on ministers of government, heads of regional law enforcement agencies, and representatives of international organisations and civil society organisations attending the conference to “transcend differences and embrace initiatives and best practices that work”.
“An effective approach to confronting and reversing the rise in crime and violence cannot be only government-centric. If we are to make inroads to reducing and preventing violence, our approach should be comprehensive and include all stakeholders in society - government, legislative bodies, judiciary, law enforcement, schools, the business community, non-governmental organisations, religious organisations and youth groups,” Ramdin warned.
The Ambassador stressed it was critical to address not only the symptoms of crime and violence, but also to analyse and address the underlying structural causes of these problems. He reasserted his organisation’s commitment to spreading peace and democracy throughout the hemisphere by fostering the emergence and sustaining the mandates of regional security mechanisms.
Ramdin was accompanied to the conference by his Chief-of-Staff Sherry Tross and OAS Representative to the Federation, Starret Greene.
