KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Security Minister Robert Montague, says the Government is committed to working with regional and international partners in fighting transnational crime and protecting citizens.

He said Jamaica and other island states have shorelines which are difficult to monitor and secure, thus making them vulnerable to sophisticated and resourced criminal organsations, which breach countries’ borders with illegal weapons, drugs and counterfeit products.

Speaking at the opening of the Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council’s (CCLEC) 38th annual conference at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, today Montague said his ministry welcomes and supports the conference and the effort being made to find effective solutions to securing borders.

The five-day conference will last until May 20.

He said the theme of the conference: ‘Leveraging Customs Information Systems to Optimise Our Role in Border Security’, promises to “open our eyes to new and better ways of making greater use of the huge investments being made in advanced information systems to secure our borders and to fight crime in the digital age”.

Montague argued that the conference is particularly critical at this time when the region faces unacceptably high levels of crime.

He said he is looking forward to positive and lasting impacts from discussions on national and regional security.