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News from the Caribbean as of
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Suriname president calls for combined efforts to fight drugs in Caribbean
Friday, October 13, 2006
by Ivan Cairo
Caribbean Net News Suriname Correspondent
Email: ivan@caribbeannetnews.com
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: In striving for an effective policy on drug control, it is imperative, said Suriname president Ronald Venetiaan, that the region concentrates on combining efforts to use scarce financial and human resources efficiently in its endeavours “to confront the tragedy our region is experiencing as a result of international drug trafficking”.
In his address at the opening ceremony of the International Anti-Narcotics Conference here in Paramaribo on Thursday, the Head of State further noted that the countries in the region should therefore join forces in the fields of education, public awareness, epidemiological surveillance and integrated demand reduction.
The partners should also strengthen cooperation in the field of forensic science, maritime activities and money laundering.
Under very tight security measures, over 130 delegates from twelve nations and six international and regional organisations will brainstorm a common strategy and policy at the two day conference, to tackle the drug trade and dismantling trafficking organisations throughout the region.
According to President Venetiaan, international action must be regarded as a key element in the fight against drugs.
Taking into consideration the serious impact of drugs on the political and socio-economical development of many developing nations, drug control should be more strongly emphasised in political discussions among partners of the region and among international partners the president argued.
In closing, Venetiaan said: “Let us send a clear message to the criminals, that we as states and regional and international entities are also organised and that we, too, can collaborate on a transnational level.”
Suriname's Justice Minister Chandrikapersad Santokhi, who is hosting the conference, stressed that the intended common strategy could only be successful if all delegates and participants “cooperate strongly and effectively on all levels in a structural and straightforward manner to eliminate this menace, which is seriously affecting our society and future generations”.
Among the participants are cocaine producing countries like Colombia, while major drug consuming nations the Netherlands, Great-Brittain and USA are also present, as are transit countries Guyana, Venezuela, Brazil, Aruba and Trinidad and Tobago.
At Thursday's session Interpol, CARICOM and other regional organisations made presentations and recommendations how to tackle the various drug related issues.
At the end of the conference, participants will adopt the so-called ‘Paramaribo Declaration’ stipulating actions that should be implemented to tackle the identified problems and threats.
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