Regional summit on gang violence and crime being planned

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, MARCH 15TH 2009 (CUOPM) – St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas says a regional summit on the gang phenomenon is being planned.
 
The issue of crime and security was one of the everyday issues discussed at the just concluded Twentieth Inter-Sessional Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government in Belize.
 
“Looking particularly at gang and gun violence and crime among young people within the Caribbean community, there is no doubt that we are under tremendous challenge at this time within the Caribbean region,” said Prime Minister Douglas at a Press Conference in Belmopan.
 
Dr. Douglas, who is also the Minister of National Security pointed out that the Caribbean does not manufacture guns.
 
“Yet the region continues to be impacted by the tremendous flow of small arms into the region, mainly because of our porous borders and because I believe that this is involved in the continuing international trade in guns and drugs, generally which have been impacting our community negatively and thus now impacting our young people who are becoming more and more involved in an alien activity of gang culture and thus seeing more and more threats from gang violence and gang crimes,” said Dr. Douglas.