Homeland Security Minister meets with Jamaican counterpart

HOMELAND Security Minister Roger Alexander met with and held extensive discussions with Jamaican National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang on ways to strengthen the bilateral relationship between both countries in the area of crime prevention and detection, which have had positive successes in Jamaica in recent times.

A statement from the ministry on July 8 said the meeting took place on July 7 in the margins of the 49th annual Caricom Heads of Government meeting in Jamaica.

It said both ministers discussed ways to ensure that the channels of communication between relevant authorities tasked with combatting crime in their respective countries, remain open and are nurtured. They promised to continue to share information and strategies to overcome the scourge of criminal elements in the region.

The statement said the meeting solidified the bonds of friendship between TT and Jamaica and set the tone for a strengthened partnership on security matters during Jamaica’s tenure as Caricom chair from July 1-December 31.

It said Alexander, along with Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Sean Sobers, also participated in the plenary discussion during the heads of government meeting with Interpol secretary general Valdecy de Urquiza e Silva Junio. Interpol is the world’s largest international criminal police organisation.

The statement said Alexander also met with senior officials of the Caricom Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) to discuss the region’s efforts to combat crime. He also participated in a security technology expo aimed at serving as a practical platform for sharing technology and best practices to address rising levels of violent crimes, including transnational and organised criminal activity and gang violence in Caricom.

IMPACS was established by the 27th meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in July 2006 as the implementation arm of a new regional architecture to manage Caricom’s action agenda on crime and security.