PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

THE REGION has been urged to demonstrate the same level of fortitude and unity shown during the hosting of the Cricket World Cup last year, in order to stem the rising tide of violent criminality.

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Patrick Manning said at the 13th special meeting of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) heads on the weekend that the lessons learnt from that cooperation were tremendous and Caribbean countries needed to bond together to fight crime.

"We believe we could come to some successful conclusions on the matters before us in a relatively short time, but of course, it calls for political will.

"In many instances what we are going to be required to do will be inconsistent with other requirements in other areas, but it is a question of give and take, it is a question of compromise, it is a question of seeing how we can arrive at a common position which may not be ideal for any of us, but a common position that would be ideal for the region.

"We are going to have to address this question of the drug trade and we are going to have to see what steps we can take to build on the very significant and important and effective arrangements that were put in place for Cricket World Cup 2007, and whether we can expand those arrangements," Manning said.

During the hosting of the Cricket World Cup, the Caribbean transformed itself into a single domestic space and instituted a visa regime for the nationals of some countries wishing to travel to the region.

Tangible benefits

CARICOM Chairman Hubert Ingraham said yesterday that all reports indicated that there were tangible benefits from intelligence-sharing during the World Cup period and underscored the importance of continued collaboration against crime.

"We are all aware of the major challenges crime and violence pose for our societies and the deleterious and self-reinforcing impact they have on our social and economic development," Ingraham, Prime Minister of The Bahamas, said.

"The fight against crime requires that we identify priorities and develop multi-sectoral strategic responses. It will take us well beyond the business of law enforcement into the care issues of our social development. It will require us to reformulate our social policies to deal with public awareness, educational deficiencies, skills training, unemployment and poverty," Ingraham added.

He said that the Caribbean should form strategic alliances to deal with issues such as deportation, the illicit firearms and drug trade and the invasive nature of increasing cybercrime.

The special summit took place in Trinidad and Tobago against the backdrop of increased murders in several Caribbean islands, most notably Jamaica, Guyana, The Bahamas and the host country Trinidad and Tobago. Last year, these four Caribbean countries had more than 2,500 murders among them. Over 1,600 Jamaicans were murdered last year.