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Press Releases
Febuary 2009
Jamaica’s Security Minister urged regional body to keep security high on
the agenda amidst worsening economic crisis
The Jamaica Defence Force along with the Jamaica Constabulary Force co-hosted the 12th Joint Meeting of the CARICOM Standing Committee for Commissioners of Police and Military Chiefs on 12 - 13 February 2009 at the Sunset Jamaica Grande, Ocho Rios, St Ann.
At the opening ceremony, Major General Stewart Saunders, Jamaica’s military chief gave the welcoming remarks, pointing out that the two-day meeting symbolized progressive efforts towards co-operation and integration for regional security and that it was timely as the Caribbean region braces itself for the effects of the global economic fallout.
In giving the main address, Minister of National Security, Senator the Honourable Colonel (Retired) Trevor MacMillan said that the region is facing mounting and forceful challenges as the global economic turmoil creates catastrophic effects for the region’s security strategies. However, he said that CARICOM member states have to continue to work together to combat this monster. Furthermore, he said that CARICOM will have to rely on military and police personnel to execute the collective policy of the Heads of Government as well as to wrestle with the domestic problems which mount daily.
The delegates discussed a range of issues critical to regional security, stemming from commitments made in April last year in Trinidad and Tobago, during the 13th Special Meeting of Heads of Government including: improved information and intelligence sharing initiatives, Small Arms and Light Weapons reduction initiatives, the development and implementation of the Regional Integrated Ballistics Information Network, the development of a regional forensics capacity and the development of a Human Resource Data-base for Law Enforcement.
In attendance were high level delegations from Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago.
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