Regional Crime Conference opens today at Marriott

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – DISCUSSION on issues related to youth’s involvement in crime and violence are on the front burner for today’s (June 22) Regional Crime Conference currently being staged at the Marriott Resort and Royal Beach Casino.

The Conference, which is an initiative of Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Denzil Douglas, will focus on the prevention of youth crime and gang formation through national and regional response programmes. More specifically, matters of intervention and prevention, rehabilitation and integration, and the governance implications of violence will be addressed throughout the two-day meeting.

Representatives from regional and international agencies were present for this morning’s opening ceremony, which boasted presentations from Douglas, OAS Assistant Secretary-General Ambassador Albert Ramdin, CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Edwin Carrington and Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago the Hon. Patrick Manning.

According to Douglas, the Conference is the regional response to the escalating crime situation in many Caribbean countries. The Kittitian leader said the phenomenon could only be alleviated through partnerships involving the private sector, civil society, law enforcement and protective services, as well as international agencies through technical and programme support.

Noting the region “could hardly afford to waste time on this issue”, he voiced his expectations for the two-day session.

“I believe this Conference is an instrumental tool in pointing the way forward for crime. It will provide a useful framework for the continued investigation and understanding of the causes and consequences of violence and for preventing violence from occurring through primary prevention programmes, policy interventions and advocacy.

“It is my hope that, coming out of today and tomorrow’s sessions, a constructive plan of action for national and regional crime reduction is realised. I also hope best practices are shared so there can be improvement in the social safety net mechanisms and rehabilitation and reintegration programmes within the region,” Douglas informed.

In giving the keynote address, Manning, CARICOM Spokesperson for Safety and Security, spoke of the issue’s significance on the CARICOM agenda, noting crime security was the fourth pillar of regional integration, in addition to functional cooperation, foreign policy coordination and economic cooperation. He stressed that the regional grouping was committed to stamping out crime in all its forms, especially the trade of drugs and illegal firearms.

“Crime and violence is a high-priority issue within CARICOM, and one we must overcome if we want to achieve economic and social progress. We will fight the regional drug trade and its partner, the trade of illegal firearms, so the social fabric of our communities can be restored. We will not rest until we have won,” Manning declared.

The ceremony ended with a light moment, as Douglas presented Manning with a copy of his yet-to-be released book, “Coming of Age”. The Conference will conclude tomorrow with a youth panel discussion and a dialogue involving CARICOM officials and representatives from regional and international development agencies.