PM Douglas requests Merida Initiative expanded to include Caribbean

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, APRIL 21ST 2009 (CUOPM) – St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas has asked the United States to consider expanding the Merida Initiative to the Caribbean region.
 
Under the Merida Initiative, the United States Congress provides US$1.4 million over three years in equipment and training from the United States to the Mexican government to support both law enforcement efforts directed against organized crime and long-term institutional building for the police and the judicial system.
 
Prime Minister Douglas, who is Chairman of the Regional Security System (RSS), led a Caribbean delegation in discussing security matters with members and officials of the United States Congress led by Congressmen Charles Rangel on the sidelines of the just concluded 5th Summit of the Americas.
 
He told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) in a telephone interview that the discussions with the United States Congressional delegation and with the new President of the United States, the Hon. Barack Obama, US$30 million would be made available to the region.
 
Dr. Douglas said that if airport security is one of the possible areas of support from the monies allocated for the region, the Caribbean would want to ensure that it will be a priority and that the monies can be accessed as quickly as possible as a result of the recent plane hijacking attempt in Jamaica.